LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


977.34 
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A    HISTORY 


Round  Prairie 


PLYMOUTH. 


1831-1875. 


BY 


E  -      H[.      YOXJ  ISr  (3-- 


Chicago  : 

Geo.  J.  Titus,  Book  and  Job  Printer, 

NO.    119   LAKE   STREET. 
1876. 


Kntered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1876,  by 
E.   HORTON    YOUN&r 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


:^^>S. 


(8i 


TO   THE  READER. 


"We  might  say  of  this  book  with  some  degree  of  truthfulness 
that,  instead  of  being  made — like  Topsy  of  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin, 
•"itgrowed."  In  other  words,  when  we  first  began  to  collect 
facts  and  reminiscences  of  the  early  history  of  this  locality,  it  was 
done  merely  for  the  purpose  of  gratifying  our  personal  desire  to 
know  more  of  the  history  of  our  adopted  home. 

With  the  study  of  the  subject,  it  grew  upon  us,  until  it  has 
■developed  into  a  book  which  we  think  will  be  of  permanent 
interest  and  value  to  both  present  and  future  citizens  of  the  place^ 
.as  well  as  to  many  of  their  friends  abroad. 

No  doubt  mistakes  will  be  found  in  it,  it  would  be  strange 
•should  it  be  otherwise,  as  the  facts  have  been  obtained  largely 
ifrom  the  personal  recollections  of  various  individuals,  and  "  to 
«rr  is  human." 

V         For  the  earlier  facts  of  the  history  we  are  largely  indebted  to 


3:^ 

^     ■"  Uncle  Allen"  Melton — the  oldest  inhabitant — the  only  living  resi- 


dent citizen  who  has  been  here  through  the  whole  period  of  our 
history. 

r<)  For  the  later  facts  we  are  under  obligations  to  almost  every 

s^^;     citizen  of  the  place,  as  there  are  but  few  who  have  not   con- 

itributed  something  to  its  contents. 

THE  AUTHOR. 
Plymouth,  III., 

April,  1876. 


k 


968355 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter  I. — Early  settlers,  but  few  of  them  left.  Our  obliga- 
tions to  them.  Difficulties  of  the  historian.  Philosophy  of 
history,  general  principles.     Our  work.  .         .         Page    9 


■Chapter  II. — French  explorers  two  hundred  years  ago.  What 
might  have  been.  Crooked  Creek,  why  so  named.  Funny 
Frenchmen.  Lamine  River,  meaning  of  name — a  hit  on  the 
Monks.  Lamoin  township.  Bronson's  creek.  The  sublime 
and  the  ridiculous.  Flour  Creek.  Confiscated  flour  and  flour 
afloat,  a  twice-named  creek.  Round  Prairie,  native  beauty, 
.■flowers,  framework,  fires.  Indian  settlements  at  Birmingham, 
Lamoin  and  Cedar  Bluff.  City  of  the  dead.  United  States 
!-urvey.     Mormon  trail.  .....         Page  13 


•Chapter  III. — Discovery  of  (the)  Plymouth  (to  be)  in  1831. 
Three-quarters  of  the  corporation  "claimed."  First  improve- 
ments. Birmingham's  first  permanent  occupation.  A  land 
flowing  with  honey.  Honey  in  a  sack  on  horseback — a 
demoralized  package.    Additional  settlers  in  1832-3.  Page    20 


■Chapter  IV. — Snake  stories.  Ezekiel  Boman  and  the  Cedar 
Bluff  snake  den,  reinforcements,  siege.  Sapp  and  Manlove  at 
the  Birmingham  snake  den.  Great  slaughter.  Subject  for  a 
picture — a  broken  rail — Mr.  Sapp  rolls  down  the  bluff  among 
the  snakes.  A  coincidence,  an  Indian  luxury.  Subject 
dropped  with  a  reflection.  ....  Page  25 


Chapter  V. — First  organized  religious  efibrts.  Methodists  at 
the  front.  First  preaching  by  Rev.  Henry  Somers  in  1833. 
Class  formed — Edward  Wade  leader.  First  Sunday  School 
work,  in  1835,  by  Samuel  King,  at  his  own  house,  afterwards  at 
Burton's  grove.  Going  to  Sunday  School  under  difficulties — 
the  Colonel's  strategy — an  incident  with  a  sequel.  Land  sales. 
Changes.  A  New  England  colony.  Congregational  Church, 
original  members,  survivors.  ....         Page  29 


■VI.  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  VI. — Broken  threads  picked  up.  The  bread  and  but- 
ter, or  "  Hog  and  Hominy"  question.  Game  and  honey. 
Nearest  supplies  of  bread-stufl  and  store  goods  at  Rushville, 
Beardstown  and  Quincy.  A  corn-cracker  at  Brooklyn  in  1832. 
Hand  Mills.  Burrs  and  Bolt  in  Brooklyn  mill  in  1S34.  Bir- 
mingham mill  built  in  1835-6.  Hardships  of  short  rations. 
Wants  in  the  way  of  store  goods  simplified  by  distance.  Post 
Office  in  Augusta  in  1834.     First  school.         .         .        Page  35 


"Chapter  VH.— 1S36.  Plymouth— first  year's  history.  Hotel, 
dwellings,  stores,  shops,  Post  Office,  school  building,  teachers, 
Presbyterian  Church.  .....  Page  40 


Chapter  Vn I. — 1837.  Plymouth  continued.  H.  P.  Griswold 
M.  D.,  and  W.  M.  King,  Esq.  Fourth  of  July  Barbecue — 
one  beef,  two  hogs  and  two  sheep  for  dinner,  five  hundred 
guests,  Sidney  A.  Little,  orator  ;  ball  and  refreshments  at  night. 
Yankee  town — why  it  was,  and  why  it  is  not.  Congregational 
house  of  worship,  old  house  and  new,  still  side  by  side.  Min- 
isters. (Sampson  Onions).  Congregational  and  Presbyterian 
meetings,  jointly  and  otherwise,  from  1837  to  1850.  Sunday 
School  Mission  work.  A  "  mighty  hunter."  Meetings  in 
Burton's  barn  and  at  Byrd  Smith's.         .         .  .         Page  45 


Chapter  IX. — Panic  of  1837 — effect  on  Plymouth.  Mormon- 
ism.  Mormon  Bible.  Moral  principles.  Chartered  rights. 
Military  power.  Danites.  Population  in  Plymouth  and 
in  county.  Asserting  their  rights.  Gentile  perversity.  Saving 
bacon  with  a  trap-gun,  &c.  Mormon  vs.  Mormon,  stolen 
hogs.  Tricks  of  the  (Mormon)  trade.  Political  trouble. 
Press  destroyed.  Smiths  killed.  A  big  scare,  Carthagenians 
flee.  Panic  spreads.  Jim's  story.  Disgusted  guards.  Mor- 
mons frightened.  Bluestocking  war.  The  Prophet's  widow 
and  son.  .....  ...         Page  56 


Chapter  X. — Business  record  of  Plymouth,  1839-1855.  Baxter. 
Mormon  hotel,  Cole  and  Ewing.  M.  C.  Johnson.  Philip 
Metzger.  King  and  Percival.  J.  W.  Bell.  H.  P.  Griswold, 
M.  D.  John  A.  Hamilton.  The  Wilson  House  burned.  Dr. 
Montgomery.  Thos.  L.  Gannon.  Thos.  Garvin.  David 
Higby.  John  J.  Hippie.  J.M.Randolph.  The  Buzan  Build- 
ing and  its  occupants.  Lewis  Graham.  Esta  Bidwell.  Henry 
Tuck.  Sayler  and  Elliott.  D.  P.  Palmer.  John  Hayden. 
N.  H.  Grafion.  James  Riggin.  Reuben  Cecil.  John  W. 
Soman.     Samuel  Tibbetts.     Reuben  Munday.         .      Page  89 


CONTENTS.  viL 

Chapter  XI. — Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  Rail  Road. 
Additions  to  town  plat.  How  to  fill  vacant  lots.  Bell,  Rook, 
and  Johnson's  addition.  Wilson's  addition.  Cook's  addition, 
Madison's  addition.  Randolph's  addition.  Improvements  on 
each.  Flouring  Mill.  School  buildings.  North  school  house. 
The  "Round  Top."  The  East  school  house.  Plymouth 
school  buildings  Nos.  2  and  3.  Academy  Association. 
Post  Office.  Postmasters  and  Mail  routes.  Newspaper,  "The 
Locomotive."  The  Park.  The  Cemetery.  Public  and  pri- 
vate burying  grounds.         .....  Page  105 


Chapter  XII. — Business  record,  1855-1875.  Wm.  M.  King. 
P.  Metzgar.  Metzgar  and  Miller.  J.  A.  Hamilton.  J.  M. 
Randolph.  C.  M.  Currens.  Thomas  Rockey.  JohnC.  Bagby. 
Jacob  Elliott.  J.  W.  Whittington.  C.  Elliott.  Jay  Davis. 
G.  Michaelis.  W.  H.  Vandorn.  The  Farmer's  Club.  The 
banking  business.  David  Currens.  J,  T.  Klepper.  H.  A. 
Jones.  D.  B.  Rankin.  W.  H.  Marsh.  John  Marsh.  J. 
Winlermeyer.  E.  Marsh.  G.  W.  Ross.  Mrs.  Gregory.  Miss 
Grafton.  J.  H.  Lawton.  Bybee  and  Terry.  F.  M.  Kinsey.. 
T.  C.  Fitzgerald.  E.  D.  Haggard.  Ross,  father  and  sons. 
James  Wade.  M.  Mesick.  Edward  Madison.  A.  J.  Massen- 
gill.  A.  Walty.  W.  W.  Pond.  J.  Hendrickson.  Bidwell,. 
Bro.  &Co.  D.  W.  Iluddleston.  A.  S.  and  N.  F.  Newman. 
W.  E.  Odell.  Machenheimer  and  Lawrence.  J.  A.  Currens. 
J.  G.  Follin,  M.  D.  M.  D.  Gillis.  R.  H.  Ellis.  Mrs.  Wright. 
Belknap  premises  and  occupants.  Sam'l  Ralston.  James 
Stone.  H.  A.  Markley.  Mrs.  E.  S.  Haines.  S.  K.  Gaylord.. 
Mrs.  Taylor.  Widup  and  Bro.  J.  W.  Shaffer.  J.  S.  Carroll. 
Wade  and  Bro.  John  McGrew,  M.  D.  Newell  Sapp,  M.  D.. 
Various  lumber  dealers.  T.  J.  Farley.  C.  H.  Dodd.  J.  H. 
Graham.  J.  W.  Johnson.  T.  W.  Monk.  R.  Morrison. 
Business  summary.     Rail  Road  and  other  business.     Page  I2S^ 


Chapter  XIII. — Temperance  Crusade,  Barbecue,  Moral  suasion. 
Physical  suasion.  Wing  vs.  the  Irish  woman.  Citizens  vs. 
Claiborn  Wilson.  The  Ladies  vs.  Tom  Braanan.  Legal 
suasion — Cuyler  vs.  Bell.  Sons  of  Temperance.  Good  Tem- 
plars. Masons.  Eastern  Star.  Population  of  Plymouth. 
Biographical  sketches.  Mathew  Melton.  John  TrammeL 
Allen  Melton.  Brummel  Sapp.  David  Manlove.  J.  W. 
Crockett.  Col.  Clark,  L.  A.  Cook.  Benj.  Terrell.  A  good 
place  in  which  to  grow  old.         ....  Page  158 


Chapter  XIV. — Church  history.  M.  E.  Church.  Congrega- 
tional Church.  Presbyterian  Church.  Church  of  the  Dis- 
ciples. Baptist  Church.  United  Brethren.  Sunday  Schools. 
Statistics  of  churches  and  Sunday  schools.  .  Page  193. 


VIll.  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  XV. — Patriotism  of  Round  Prairie.  Survivors  of  the 
war  of  1812-15.  Francis  Kington.  Edward  Wade.  R.  T. 
Madison.  Black  Hawk  and  Texan  wars — Major  J.  F.  Garrett. 
Mormon  war.  Mexican  war.  The  Rebellion. — List  of  soldiers 
from  this  vicinity  in  the  Twelfth,  Fourteenth,  Sixteenth,. 
Twenty-Eighth,  Thirty-Fourth,  Forty-Seventh,  Fifty-Seventh, 
Fifty-Eighth,  Sixty-Second,  Seventy-First,  Seventy-Second,- 
Seventy-eighth,  Eighty-Eighth,  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth, 
One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
Fourth,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Eighth,  and  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-First  regiments  of  HI.  Vol.,  Second  111.  Artillery  Co. 
H.  Seventh  Mo.  Cavalry.  Tenth  Mo.  Infantry.  A  list  of 
those  whose  regiments  are  not  designated.  A  list  of  present 
residents  enlisted  elsewhere.  Recruiting  extraordinary — an 
episode Page  212-' 


Chapter  XVI. — Birmingham.  Location.  Town  Plat.  Mill 
enterprise.  First  house.  First  schsol.  An  incident.  Sunday 
school.  Methodist  church.  Revival  of  1874.  Presbyterian 
church.  Business  record.  Professional.  The  notorious  A. 
D.  Regions  beyond.  Gin  Ridge.  Nubbin  Ridge.  Maple 
sugar.  Bridges.  Accidents.  Future  prospects.  Railroads. 
.  .  .  Page  233, 


■Chapter  XVII. — Underground  Rail  Road.  Lovejoy  and 
Thompson.  Through  by  daylight.  Ginger's  story.  A  col- 
lision, train  robbing.  A  fortunate  blunder.  Lost.  Stepping: 
down  and  out.  Going  to  market.  Discovery — a  narrow 
escape.'  Big  haul — worthless  negro  captured.  True  manhood. 
A  lively  load  and  lively  time.  A  pair  of  photographs.  A 
grand  rally  and  hunt.  An  interesting  side  scene. — The 
sequel Page  24.8- 


^    HISTORY 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth. 


CHAPTER     I. 

Only  about  forty-five  years  have  passed 
since  the  first  settlements  are  known  to 
have  been  made  within  the  bounds  of 
Round  Prairie.  This  brief  period,  however, 
exceeds  the  average  lifetime  of  a  genera- 
tion ;  and  as  we  inquire  for  this  and  that 
one  of  the  first  settlers,  the  answer  romes 
back  that  they  have  gone  to  that  other 
country  from  which  there  is  no  return. 

Having  little  time  for  literary  pursuits 
amid  the  struggles  for  the  necessaries  and 
comforts  of  life,  the  few  whose  tastes  and 
training  may  have  fitted  them  for  it,  have 
left  us  no  record  of  their  experience  in  lay- 
ing the  foundations  of  the  physical  and 
social  structure  we  now  enjoy.  But  few  of 
the  first  settlers  remain  ;  and  of  these,  all 
who  were  then  old  enough  to  take  an  active 


lo  A  History  of 

part  in  the  work  of  subduing  nature  and 
building  up  society,  are  now  on  the  down- 
hill of  life  —  many  of  them  so  far  down 
towards  the  end  of  their  journey,  that  their 
white  locks  and  feeble  limbs  admonish  us 
to  write  soon,  if  we  would  do  it  from  their 
lips,  the  story  they  have  to  tell  of  what 
thev  have  done  and  endured  for  us  and 
our   children. 

To  this  little  band  of  pioneers  who  began 
to  make  Round  Prairie  the  fruitful  field  we 
now  see,  and  who  laid  the  foundations  of  the 
business  enterprises,  schools,  churches,  etc., 
that  are  established  in  our  midst,  we  owe  a 
lastingr  debt  of  oratitude.  The  least  we  can 
do  in  discharging  this  debt,  is  to  cherish 
their  memory,  make  a  record  of  their  deeds, 
engrave  this  record  in  the  endurinof  mate- 
rial  of  the  printer's  art,  and  hand  it  down  to 
children's  children.  We  mav  do  this  with 
the  firm  assurance  that  the  value  of  the 
record  will  greatly  increase  as  succeeding 
generations  come  upon  the  stage.  The 
historian  who  attempts  to  write  of  passing 
events,  or  close  upon  the  time  of  past 
events,  has  peculiar  difficulties  to  encoun- 
ter. Like  the  soldier  on  the  battle-field, 
he  is  so  enveloped  in  the  dust  and  smoke 
of  the  strife  as  to  be  poorly  fitted  to  judge 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         1 1 

of  the  progress  of  the  battle,  or  of  its  influ- 
ence upon  the  cause  for  which  the  battle  is 
fouLi'ht. 

Faithful  history  is  not  merely  a  record  of 
passing  events,  however  important  these 
ma)'  be.  Such  events  serve  rather  as  a 
frame-work  or  skeleton  upon  which  history 
is  elaborated.  If  you  would  find  the  sources 
of  life  and  power  in  true  history,  look  into 
the  motives  that  led  to  the  act,  then  to  the 
results  growing  out  of  it.  These  are  the 
moulding  influences  that  impress  them- 
selves upon  future  generations.  There  is 
a  philosophy  in  history,  and  its  principles 
are  the  same,  whether  applied  to  the  birth 
and  growth  of  a  great  nation  like  the 
United  States,  or  to  a  little  community 
like  Round   Prairie. 

The  principles  and  motives  that  led  our 
Pilgrim  Fathers  to  Plymouth  Rock  250 
years  ago  have  impressed  this  nation  no 
less  surely  than  the  principles  and  motives 
that  led  our  pioneers  to  this  Prairie  45 
years  ago  have  impressed  themselves  upon 
this  community.  By  an  inexorable  law 
of  nature  the  character  of  the  parent  is 
stamped  upon  the  child.  This  is  true  of 
the  community  as  well  as  of  the  family. 
As  previously  intimated,  we  are  not  yet  in 


12  A  History  of 

a  position  to  apply  these  general  principles 
to  the  work  before  us;  this  part  of  the  work 
must  be  left  for  those  who  can  trace  the 
results  of  the  acts  we  record  in  the  clearer 
light  of  the  future. 

We  state  briefly,  for  the  benefit  of  young- 
philosophers,  certain  results  that  may  be 
expected  from  certain  conditions  in  the 
formation  of  character,  either  in  the  family 
or  community. 

If  parents  are  wise,  and  united  in  coun- 
sels and  training,  the  child  may  be  expected 
to  grow  up  a  useful  member  of  society;  if 
otherwise,  evils  greater  or  less,  may  be  ex- 
pected. In  mixed  communities,  made  up 
of  people  from  various  sections,  and  trained 
under  different  influences,  conflicting  cur- 
rents will  be  found,  that  to  some  extent 
neutralize  each  other,  lowering  the  tone 
and  diminishing  the  power  of  the  whole. 
The  result  is  seen  in  a  comparatively  low 
standard  of  public  improvement  in  almost 
everything  which  affects  the  physical,  social, 
mental  and  moral  welfare  of  the  commun- 
ity. 

Find  a  homogeneous  community  and  you 
will  find  the  currents  of  influence  broad, 
strong  and  deep,  whatever  may  be  the  char- 
acter of  those  currents. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.  13 

With  these  remarks  on  its  philosophy,  we 
turn  to  the  consideration  of  the  facts  of  his- 
tory as  furnished  by  the  subject  in  hand. 


CHAPTER     II. 

It  would  be  interesting  and  profitable, 
also,  to  take  a  rapid  glance  into  the  brief 
records  left  by  such  men  as  Marquette,  Jo- 
liet,  La  Salle,  Hennepin  and  others,  who 
were  amongf  the  first  white  men  who  are 
known  to  have  explored  the  region  of  which 
our  locality  and  state  forms  a  part ;  but  the 
story  would  be  too  long  —  nor  does  it  belong- 
here.  Our  work  is  local,  not  general  his- 
tory. 

Some  of  these  old  French  explorers 
might  have  paddled  their  canoes  up  Crook- 
ed Creek  from  Beardstown  to  Birmingham 
and  Lamoine,  at  some  seasons  of  the  year, 
just  as  easily,  and  a  great  deal  quicker  than 
to  La  Salle  and  Joliet,  and  immortalized 
their  names  just  as  effectually  by  leaving 
them  within  the  boundaries  of  our  beautiful 
Round  Prairie,  as  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Illinois. 

Crooked  Creek,  with  its  margin  of  timber, 


14  A  History  of 

forms  the  eastern  and  most  of  the  northern 
boundary  of  Round  Prairie. 

Of  the  oriorin  of  the  name  of  this  creek 
we  have  obtained  no  certain  knowledge. 
Our  oldest  settlers  found  it  so  named  when 
they  came,  by  other  older  settlers  at  other 
points  upon  its  banks.  We  might  guess  — 
near  the  mark,  undoubtedly  —  that  some 
one  named  it  upon  the  bible  principle  of 
applying  a  name  significant  of  the  thing. 
The  fitness  of  the  name,  I  think,  has  never 
been  questioned  —  nor  is  it  likely  to  be 
until  Crooked  Creek  straightens  itself  out. 

The  funny  fellows  who  did  Uncle  .Sam's 
surveying  hereabouts  —  Frenchmen,  per- 
haps—  possibly  descendants  of  old  Mar- 
quette himself  (though,  on  second  thought, 
that  seems  improbable,  as  Marquette  was  a 
Catholic  priest,  and  they  cannot  marry,  or 
could  not  in  those  times,  and  consequently 
do  not  have  descendants) — well,  no  matter 
who  they  were,  they  determined  to  dignify 
Crooked  Creek  as  a  river,  and  called  it 
Lamine,  or  Lamoin — a  French  word  mean- 
ing The  Monk.  If  they  intended  to  insinu- 
ate by  this  name,  that  the  ways  of  the 
monks  are  as  devious  and  crooked  as  the 
stream    to   which    they    applied    the    name. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.  1 5 

they  were  pretty  hard  on  this  well-abused 
Catholic  order. 

In  the  original  field  notes  of  the  United 
States  survey  for  McDonnough  County, 
Crooked  Creek  appears  as  Lamine  River ; 
the  name,  however,  would  not  stick  —  it 
was  too  large,  or  the  stream  too  small ;  it 
got  loose,  became  detached  from  the  stream, 
and  finally  fastened  upon  township  4  N.  4 
W.,  leaving  Crooked  Creek  to  flow  quietly 
down  its  tortuous  channel  through  Lamoin 
township,  driving  Lamoin  Mill  on  its  way 
to  the  Illinois  river. 

A  considerable  tributary  of  Crooked 
Creek,  known  as  Bransons  Creek,  com- 
pletes the  northern  boundary  of  Round 
Prairie ;  a  small  tributary  of  this,  with  its 
margin  of  timber,  bounds  it  upon  the  west. 

Bronson's  Creek  has  taken  its  name  from 
that  of  the  first  white  settler  upon  its  banks, 
Thomas  Bronson. 

The  creek  upon  our  south,  with  its  flowery 
banks,  woody  slopes,  quarries  of  rock,  pre- 
cipitous bluffs,  and  probable  deposits  of 
coal,  has  much  about  it  both  of  beauty  and 
of  utility.  Romantic  young  people  delight 
often  to  ramble  upon  the  banks  of  beauti- 
ful streams  with  beautiful  names,  gathering 


1 6  A  History  of 

the  pretty,  colored  pebbles,  or  wild  spring 
flowers  ;  and  said  creek,  no  doubt,  is  a  good 
place  for  the  prosecution  of  such  laudable 
enterprises.  While  thus  engaged,  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  origin  of  its  name  may  remind 
romantic  people  of  the  important  fact  that 
romance  and  reality  may  be  quite  as  near 
to  each  other  as  the  sublime  and  ridiculous 
are  said  to  be. 

In  the  summer  of  1832  Mr.  Edward  Wade 
"  made  a  crop "  on  the  north  edge  of  the 
Augusta  prairie  near  the  creek,  on  an  "  im- 
provement "  then  held  by  one  Dr.  Allen. 
On  leaving  the  cabin  he  occupied  tempora- 
rily there,  for  the  purpose  of  putting  up  a 
cabin  upon  his  own  claim  on  the  neck  of 
prairie  toward  Birmingham,  the  safety  of  his 
stock  of  supplies  of  bacon,  flour,  etc.,  during 
his  absence  became  a  matter  of  consultation 
between  himself  and  the  said  Dr.  Allen. 
The  Doctor  thought  it  unsafe  to  leave 
them  in  the  cabin,  and  advised  him  to  bring 
them  to  his  house,  which  was  done  ;  but  on 
Mr.  Wade's  return,  much  to  his  surprise,  he 
found  the  storage  arranoement  had  bene 
flted  the  Doctor  much  more  than  himself, 
as  the  Doctor  had  appropriated  largely  of 
the  flour  to  supply  his  own  wants.  This 
incident  concerning  Mr.  Wade's  Jloiii%  the 


Round  Pi^airie  and  PlymoiUh.         i  7 

neielibors  determined  to  commemorate  in 
the  name  of  the  creek  —  so  it  came  to  be 
F-l-o-7i-r  Creek. 

Although  the  name  bid  fair  to  stick  with- 
out  re-pasting,  some  time  later  (in  the  spring 
of  1834),  Mr.  Pruit  and  Mr.  Box,  of  St.  Ma- 
ry s,  were  returning  from  the  Brooklyn  Mill, 
with  their  grists,  one  Sunday  evening,  when 
the  "creek  was  up,"  crossing  at  the  ford 
south  of  Plymouth,  with  their  ox  team,  a 
large  and  well-filled  sack  oi  flour  was  swept 
out  of  their  wagon  by  the  deep  and  rapid 
■stream,  and  supposed  to  be  lost ;  but  on  the 
Wednesday  following,  it  was  fished  out,  well 
preserved  and  in  good  order,  except  a  thin 
crust  next  the  sack,  —  so  saith  the  "oldest 
inhabitant,"  Mr.  Allen  Melton.  Thus  hap- 
pened the  second  christening  of  Flour 
Creek, 

Between  the  creeks  of  which  we  have 
spoken,  lies  Round  Prairie,  its  general  form 
corresponding  quite  nearly  to  its  name  — 
■(leaving  off  the  narrow  neck  jutting  out  to- 
wards   Birmingham.) 

The  average  diameter  of  the  prairie  will 
not  vary  much  from  three  miles. 

Of  the  wild,  native  beauty  of  this  locality, 
we  may  gather  some  idea  by  remembering 
that  its  gently  undulating  surface  was  swept 


1 8  A  Histojy  of 

clean  by  the  annual  prairie  fires,  only  to  be 
reclothed  with  a  rich  carpet  of  grass  pro- 
fusely ornamented  with  the  greatest  variety 
and  abundance  of  prairie  flowers.  The  pic- 
ture presented  by  this  scene  is  spoken  of  by 
early  settlers  as  one  of  surpassing  beauty. 
The  frame-work  of  this  picture  —  the  mar- 
gin of  timber  surrounding  it  —  was  not  a 
tangled  mat  of  undergrowth  amid  the  trees, 
inaccessible,  almost,  to  man  or  beast,  as  we 
now  find  it  in  many  places  —  but  a  clear, 
open  growth  of  timber,  through  which  one 
might  travel  unobstructed  in  any  direction. 
This  freedom  from  undergrowth  was  due  to 
the  same  agency  that  renovated  the  surface 
of  the  prairie  —  the  prairie  fires. 

If  the  Indian  tribes  who  preceded  the 
whites  in  the  occupation  of  this  region  did 
not  appreciate  the  beauty  of  the  locality,, 
they  appreciated  its  utility  in  furnishing  an 
abundance  of  game  to  supply  their  wants. 
The  Indians  had  left  before  any  permanent 
white  settlement  had  been  made  in  Round 
Prairie ;  but  the  first  settlers  found  three 
recently  vacated  Indian  camps  —  the  num- 
ber of  wigwams  indicating  a  considerable 
colony  in  each.  One  of  these  was  near  Bir- 
mingham, another  at  Lamoin  Mill,  and  the 
third   at  Cedar   Bluffs,  north  of  Plymouth. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.  1 9 

The  wigwams  did  not  remain  long,  the  prai- 
rie fires  soon  swept  away  every  vestige  of 
these  cities  of  the  living.  Birmingham  has 
furnished  a  more  enduring  monument  of 
Indian  occupation  in  her  city  of  their  dead. 
Remains  of  an  Indian  burying  ground,  be- 
yond Birmingham  —  near  the  road  leading 
to  Brooklyn  —  are  thought  to  be  visible 
still.  In  1847-8,  two  medical  students, 
Drs.  Sapp  and  Patterson,  in  searching  some 
of  these  mounds  for  bones  to  illustrate  their 
anatomical  studies,  found  such  quantities  of 
them  as  to  suggest  the  possibility  that  that 
locality  may  have  been  the  bloody  battle- 
ofround  of  hostile  Indian  tribes.  But  we 
tread  here  upon  uncertain  historical  ground 
— ^let  us  look  for  more  definite  records. 

In  18 19  the  United  States  surveyors 
struck  their  temporary  camps,  leaving  their 
"stakes  and  mounds"  in  the  prairie,  and 
their  "  witness  trees "  in  the  timber,  as  the 
only  evidences  that  were  to  be  perpetuated 
of  the  civilized  occupation  of  Round  Prairie 
until    its   permanent   settlement    in    183 1-2. 

We  cret  an  introduction  to  our  notorious 
fellow  citizens  of  the  Mormon  persuasion 
about  the  time  Round  Prairie  was  settled. 
We  shall  make  their  acquaintance  more 
fully  about  a  dozen  years   later  in  our  rec- 


20  A  History  of 

ord.  We  have  only  to  say  of  them  now, 
that  the  emiQrration  of  the  Mormon  commu- 
nity  from  Ohio  to  Missouri  passed  through 
the  lower  part  of  Round  Prairie,  leaving  a 
well-marked  and  beaten  road,  traveled  by 
hundreds  of  teams,  and  that  continued  to 
be  used  for  years  afterwards.  This  high- 
way—  the  first  made  on  Round  Prairie  — 
was  known  as  the  Mormon  Trail.  It 
crossed  the  Illinois  river  near  the  mouth 
of  Spoon  river.  Crooked  Creek  just  above 
Birmingham,  and  Flour  Creek  south  of  Mr. 
Fielding's  present  residence,  thence  along 
the  north  side  of  the  Augusta  prairie,  cross- 
ing the  Mississippi  river  at  Ouincy. 


CHAPTER     III. 

Following  the  county  line,  as  marked  by 
the  United  States  surveyors,  from  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Pulaski,  where  they  had  been  put 
on  track  of  it,  Mr.  Matthew  Melton,  his  son 
Allen,  and  son-in-law  John  Trammel,  reached 
the  corner  between  Schuyler,  and  McDon- 
nough  counties,  at  the  S.  E.  of  Sec.  36,  on 
which  Plymouth  now  stands,  in  August, 
1 83 1,  and   proceeded  at   once  to  the  rise  of 


Round  Prairie  ajid  Plynioiith.         2 1 

ground  on  which  Plymouth  is  built,  and 
staked  their  claims  as  follows :  Matthew 
Melton  the  S.  W.,  John  Trammel  the  N.  W., 
and  Allen  Melton  the  N.  E.  quarter  of  the 
section.  They  then  returned  to  Morgan 
County,  111.  (their  home  at  that  time),  and 
in  September  returned  with  a  team,  tools, 
etc.,  and  built  a  cabin  on  Matthew  Melton's 
claim,  south  of  town,  just  north  of  the  town- 
ship line,  near  where  Mr.  Cooper  now  lives. 
A  little  patch  of  ground  was  plowed  near 
the  cabin  and  planted  with  shellotts  —  a 
species  of  onion  —  and  with  peach  seeds; 
thus  was  opened  up  the  first  "improvement" 
on  Round  Prairie:*  this,  however,  was  not 
permanently  occupied  until  a  year  later. 

It  was  intended  by  the  parties,  to  move 
their  families  at  once  to  the  cabin  they  had 
just  built,  but  after  returning  to  Morgan 
county  for  this  purpose,  rains  set  in,  raising 
the  creeks  so  that  the  journey  became  im- 
practicable. 

When  this  party  came  up  in  September,. 
1831,  to  make  their  improvement,  Mr.  Mat- 
thew Melton  brought  his  daughter  Marissa, 

*  Christopher  E.  Yates  claims  to  have  come  to  Round  Prai- 
rie in  1829  with  a  view  to  locating  here,  and  to  have  digged  a 
well  and  commenced  the  building  of  a  cabin  on  what  is  now  Mrs. 
Holton's  place  ;  but  finding  that  he  was  upon  "  Patent  "  land, 
instead  of  that  open  to  pre-emption,  he  abandoned  the  location 
and  settled  near  the  place  now  occupied  by  the  town  of  Augusta, 


22  A  History  of 

—  who  was  soon  afterwards  married  to  Mr. 
Ezekiel  Boman  —  as  cook  and  company  for 
the  party  —  the  first  white  luoman  known 
to  have  visited  Round  Prairie  with  a  view 
to  settlement  here. 

The  winter  following,  Mr.  Brommel  Sapp 
and  Mr,  David  Manlove  came  into  Birming- 
ham township,  made  claims  and  commenced 
improving  them.  Mr.  Sapp  built  upon  the 
place  occupied  by  himself  until  his  death, 
and  now  occupied  by  his  son  S.  Riley  Sapp. 
Mr.  Manlove  built  upon  the  place  now 
known  as  the  Hippie  farm.  In  April,  1832, 
Mr.  Sapp  moved  his  family  from  Rushville, 
where  they  had  wintered,  to  their  new  home, 
the  first  family  permanently  located  within 
the  boundaries  of  Round  Prairie.  They 
were  followed,  within  about  two  weeks,  by 
the  family  of  Mr.  Manlove. 

The  Melton  party,  who  made  the  first 
iniprove77tents  in  the  fall  of  '31,  were  origin- 
ally from  Tennessee,  Morgan  county  having 
been  their  home  for  about  two  years  previ- 
ous to  their  settlement  here.  The  Sapp  and 
Manlove  party  were  from  North  Carolina. 

These  pioneers  found  this  a  land  flowing 
with  honey,  ready  at  hand  on  their  arrival. 
The  Melton  party,  while  hunting  for  a 
"board   tree,"  on   Flour  Creek,  near  where 


Round  Prairie  aiid  PlymoutJi.  23 

the  railroad  now  crosses,  found  half-a-dozen 
bee-trees  near  together,  whose  sweet  stores 
were  speedily  "  confiscated,"  and  a  barrel  of 
the  spoils  carried  back  with  them  to  Mor- 
gan county.  The  Sapp  and  Manlove  party 
found  similar  stores  awaiting  them.  On 
one  of  their  occasional  visits  to  their  fami- 
lies in  Rushville,  during  the  winter  they 
were  building  their  cabins,  Mr.  Sapp  deter- 
mined to  treat  his  family  with  some  of  the 
sweet  supplies  his  chosen  home  afforded, 
and  for  want  of  better  facilities,  some  of  the 
choicest  honey-comb  was  carefully  stowed 
into  a  sack  and  laid  across  his  horse  ;  and 
although  as  much  care  was  given  to  its  safe 
transportation  as  modern  express  companies 
are  wont  to  bestow  upon  frail  goods,  the 
package  became  sadly  demoralized,  and  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  contents  spread 
upon  the  sides  of  the  horse  and  pantaloons 
of  the  rider :  the  effort,  however,  proved  a 
partial  success,  as  a  portion  was  carried 
safely  through  to  its  destination. 

In  the  spring  of  1832,  another  little  party 
of  Tennesseeans  arrived.  Mr,  William  Ed- 
wards, finding  the  Melton  cabin  unoccupied, 
took  temporary  possession  of  it  with  his 
family,  and  then  made  a  claim  and  began  to 
improve  the  present  Swicegood  place,  build- 


24  A  History  of 

ing  near  the   timber,  south  of  the  present 
residence. 

Mr.  Edward  Wade,  as  we  have  already- 
stated  in  connection  with  the  history  of 
Flour  Creek,  located  temporarily  on  the 
Augusta  Prairie,  and  in  the  fall  permanently 
upon  his  claim  near  James  G.  King's  present 
residence.  In  company  with  these  two,  Mr, 
Samuel  Haggard  and  his  son-in-law  George 
Saddler  came  as  far  as  the  old  Fonda  place, 
east  of  Augusta,  where  they  remained  per- 
haps two  or  three  years,  and  then  removed, 
the  former  to  the  place  occupied  by  him 
until  his  death,  and  now  owned  by  his  son- 
in-law,  Barney  Eidson  —  the  latter.  Saddler, 
to  the  Lawrence  place. 

During  the  season,  two  other  families  set- 
tled in  Round  Prairie,  east  of  the  "  Round 
Top  "school  house.  Wm.  Emerick  on  the 
Bodenhamer  Manlove  place,  and  Thomas 
Ratliffe  on  the  Griffith  place.  In  October, 
'32,  the  Melton  party  returned  to  occupy 
their  claims,  and  with  them  Mr.  Ezekiel  Bo- 
man, who  had  married  Miss  Marissa  Melton 
since  her  visit  to  Round  Prairie  the  year 
previous.  As  soon  as  practicable,  cabins 
were  put  up  on  the  Trammel  claim,  now  the 
Madison  place,  and  on  Boman's,  occupied  by 
him  until  his  death,  and  now  by  Elias  Wade. 


Round  Prairie  a?id  Ply  motet  h.  25 

In  1833,  material  additions  were  made  to- 
the  population  of  Round  Prairie.  The  fol- 
lowing list  is  supposed  to  be  nearly,  if  not 
quite,  full  and  correct,  of  the  families  who 
came  that  year,  and  of  their  location  at  that 
time  ;  but  the  order  of  their  arrival,  as  to- 
time,  cannot  be  given  : 

Mr.  Manlove  Wheeler  located  on  what  is 
now  N.  F.  Burton's  place.  Henry  Wheeler 
where  Mr.  Whipple  now  is.  Paris  Wheeler 
where  James  G.  King  now  is.  Wm.  Pickett 
on  the  David  Smith  place.  Jonathan  Tharp 
on  the  Fielding  place.  James  Edwards 
where  B,  F.  Edwards  now  is.  Isaac  Pidgeon 
where  the  Hall  brothers  now  are.  Solomon 
Stanley  on  the  L.  A.  Cook  place,  James 
Clark  on  the  Thomas  Talbot  place.  Jesse 
Buzan  on  the  William  Edwards  place.  Dn 
Blackburn  on  the  east  half  of  the  same 
quarter.  John  Poole  where  Dr.  King  now 
is.  Able  Friend  where  Mr.  Klepper  now  is, 
and  Orville  Sherrill  where  L.  G.  Reid  now  is. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Following  nearly  the  chronological  order 
of  events,  with  important  or  interesting  inci- 
dents, as  well   as  with  historical   items,  this 
3 


26  A  History  of 

may  be  as  suitable  a  place  as  any  in  which 
to  introduce  some  big  snake  stories. 

One  bright  spring  day  in  1833,  Mr.  Eze- 
kiel  Boman,  who  but  a  short  time  before 
had  become  the  happy  father  of  his  first- 
born child  —  now  Mrs.  Walty — started  out 
with  his  infant  in  his  arms,  for  a  walk.  Led, 
perhaps,  by  that  intuitive  love  for  nature  in 
her  wilder  forms,  so  common  in  the  human 
breast,  he  found  himself  presently  at  Cedar 
Bluff.  Here  his  wandering  steps  were  sud- 
denly arrested  by  an  ominous  rattle  and 
coiled  form,  that  man  never  meets  unex- 
pectedly without  being  startled. 

Unarmed  for  fight,  his  first  impulse  was 
to  seek  a  place  of  temporary  safety  for  his 
precious  luggage,  and  then  a  weapon,  of 
stick  or  stone,  for  the  attack,  but  as  he 
turned,  another  met  his  gaze,  and  then  an- 
other, and  another.  !n  fact,  he  could  see 
snakes  all  around  him,  without  the  aid  now 
required,  of  numerous  glasses  —  of  strych- 
nine whisky.  Picking  his  way  cautiously 
out  of  the  enemy's  encampment,  the  attack 
was  deferred  until  reinforcements  could  be 
brought  up.  Returning  with  two  of  his 
brothers-in-law,  Allen  and  Henry  Melton, 
the   slaughter  began.      The   enemy  proved 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.  2'/ 

to  be  strongly  intrenched  within  the  rocky 
ledge  ;  their  "  den  "  was  inaccessible  ;  but  by 
frequent  raids  during  that  season  and  part 
of  the  next,  surprising  and  killing  them  as 
they  ventured  out  of  the  den,  over  600  rat- 
tlesnakes were  killed  by  these  parties  at  that 
locality. 

Near  the  same  time,  Mr.  Bromel  Sapp 
and  Mr.  David  Manlove,  while  out  one  af- 
ternoon, came  upon  a  smiilar  den  in  a  ravine 
north  of  Manlove's  place  —  now  the  Hippie 
farm  —  and  in  a  single  attack,  350  of  the 
reptiles  were  slaughtered. 

These  and  other  parties  repeated  the  at- 
tacks upon  that  stronghold  at  various  times, 
until,  as  the  "oldest  inhabitant"  (A.  Mel- 
ton) affirms,  over  1,100  snakes  had  been 
killed. 

During  one  of  these  attacks,  an  incident 
occurred  that  would  have  furnished  a  fme 
subject  for  Nast's  pencil,  if  he  had  been  on 
the  field  at  that  time.  In  removing  some 
of  the  rocks  under  which  the  snakes  were 
concealed,  a  rail  was  used  as  a  lever.  Upon 
the  end  of  this,  projecting  to  the  edge  of  the 
steep  bluff,  was  perched  the  long,  lank  form 
of  Mr.  Bromel  Sapp.  Swaying  upon  the 
rail  with  all  his  force,  in  order  to  raise  the 


28  A  History  of 

rock,  he  underestimated  his  own  weight,  or 
overestimated  the  strength  of  the  rail  —  it 
broke,  and  down  he  went,  headlong,  over 
and  over,  to  the  bottom  of  the  bluff,  among 
the  hundreds  of  lifeless  bodies  of  his  slaugh- 
tered foes.  And  that  was  how  the  snakes 
got  him, 

A  coincidence  is  worth  noticing  here  that 
may  throw  some  light  upon  the  subject  of 
Indian  customs.  We  have  spoken  of  one 
of  the  Indian  settlements  in  our  vicinity 
being  at  Birmingham.  To  be  more  exact 
in  its  location  — instead  of  being  on  the 
site  of  the  village,  it  was  a  little  above,  at 
the  point  where  the  ravine  enters  Crooked 
Creek,  and  near  the  location  of  the  great 
snake  den  just  mentioned.  Another  of  the 
Indian  villages,  it  will  be  remembered,  was 
located  at  the  Cedar  Bluff  snake  den.  The 
only  remarks  we  venture  upon  this  coinci- 
dence are,  that  "  somebody"  says  that  rattle- 
snake meat  is  a  choice  luxury  to  the  palate 
of  the  Indian  epicure  —  and  further,  that,  if 
this  be  true  (we  do  not  vouch  for  it},  these 
villages  were  located  with  a  nice  discrimina- 
tion  as  to  convenience  to  a  good  supply  of 
one  of  the  luxuries  of  Indian  life.  We  drop 
the  farther  consideration  of  these  incidents 
with   pleasure  —  glad  to  escape  the  thought 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.  29 

of  what  might  have  been,  had  those  I'/oo 
rattlesnakes  been  allowed  to  live  and  propa- 
gate, through  all  these  forty  years,  in  such  a 
limited  territory  as  Round  Prairie. 


CHAPTER    V. 

It  might  not  be  expedient  to  turn  the 
thread  of  our  historical  narrative  too  ab- 
ruptly into  another  channel ;  and  as  we 
have  noticed  a  successful  onslaught  upon 
the  beastly  representatives  of  satan's  power, 
we  turn  now  to  notice  the  first  organized 
attack,  within  our  bounds,  upon  his  spiritual 
kingdom  in  the  hearts  of  men.  This  battle, 
as  yet,  seems  less  decisive,  but  its  successful 
result  is  fully  assured. 

Here,  as  almost  everywhere,  our  Method- 
ist brethren  were  found  at  the  front  —  their 
picket  line  close  upon  the  footsteps  of  the 
first  settlers.  The  first  preaching  service 
known  to  have  been  held  on  Round  Prairie, 
was  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Wm.  Edwards,  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Frank  Svvicegood  — 
the  building  then  standing  in  the  edge  of 
the  timber,  nearly  south  of  the  present  resi- 
dence. ■  The  preacher  was  Rev.  Henry 
Somers,    of    the    Rushville     Circuit,  whose 


30  A  Histo7'y  of 

nearest  appointments,  at  that  time,-  were 
at  Mr.  C.  Oliver's,  at  Pulaski,  and  at  Mr. 
Archer's,  at  Middletown. 

This  was  near  the  close  of  the  conference 
year,  in  the  fall  of  1833.  Soon  after,  a  class 
was  formed  at  the  same  place,  consisting  of 
Mr.  Wm.  Edwards  and  his  wife,  Mr.  Edward 
Wade  and  his  wife,  and  a  Mr.  Phillips  and 
wife.  During  the  conference  year  of '33  and 
'34,  this  class  was  supplied  with  preaching 
every  two  weeks  by  Rev.  Peter  Boring.  Mr. 
Edward  Wade  was  appointed  class-leaden 
It  is  thought  that  no  record  exists  of  the 
earlier  additions  to  this  class.  Mr.  Wade 
and  his  wife  still  live  —  active  members  of 
the  M.  E.  Church  in  Plymouth. 

While  there  was  occasional  preaching" 
within  the  bounds  of  the  prairie,  by  the 
Baptists,  and  perhaps  some  others,  no  regu- 
lar preaching  was  maintained  by  other  de- 
nominations until  the  fall  of  1835.  ^"  '^he 
spring  of  1835  the  Sunday  school  work  in 
Round  Prairie  commenced  in  the  house,  and 
by  the  family,  of  Mr.  Samuel  King,  at  the 
place  now  occupied  by  his  son  James  G. 
King.  Soon  after  the  opening  of  this 
school,  its  working  force  was  strengthened 
by  the  addition  of  the  family  of  Mr.  Robert 
Hall.     Later  in  the  season  this   school  was 


Rotmd  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         3 1 

moved  from  Mr.  King's  house  to  a  black- 
smith's shop  on  the  place  of  Mr.  Manlove 
Wheeler,  now  owned  by  Mr.  N.  F.  Burton  — 
the  shop  standing  in  the  grove  near  the 
present  residence.  The  school  continued 
at  that  place  during  the  summer  and  early 
fall.  Whatever  this  primitive  Sunday 
school  may  have  lacked  in  modern  appli- 
ances and  model  methods,  a  single  incident 
may  be  introduced  here  to  show  that  it  did 
not  suffer,  as  do  so  many  of  our  modern 
ones,  from  lack  of  zeal  and  earnestness  in 
attendance  upon  its  sessioos. 

Those  who  are  familiar  with  the  ground 
about  Mr.  Burton's  grove  know  that  a  con- 
siderable ravine  runs  upon  the  south  and 
southeast  sides,  and  also  one  upon  the  north 
and  northeast  sides,  and  that  after  heavy 
rains  streams  of  sufficient  size  are  found  in 
them  to  have  proved  a  serious  obstacle  to 
foot  travelers  at  a  time  when  bridges  had 
not  yet  been  built.  Under  just  such  cir- 
cumstances as  we  have  stated,  our  friend 
James  G.  King,  in  company  with  his  sisters 
and  other  lady  friends,  approached  the  place 
of  meeting,  one  day,  only  to  find  the  ravine 
utterly  impracticable  for  the  ladies  to  cross. 
But  the  "  Colonel "  had  set  out  to  escort  his 
company  to  Sunday  school  and  was  not  to 


32  A  History  of 

be  foiled ;  his  strategy  was  equal  to  the 
■emergency.  Throwing  off  his  boots,  and 
rolling  up  his  pantaloons,  he  took  the  ladies 
in  his  arms,  one  by  one,  and  carried  them 
safely  over  the  stream.  Forty  years  of  ser- 
vice, since  that  day,  in  the  Sunday  school 
work,  has  but  little,  if  any,  abated  his  zeal 
in  the  cause.  We  may  add,  as  a  sequel  to 
to  the  above  incident,  that  one  of  the  ladies 
the  "  Col."  carried  over  the  stream,  clings  to 
him  still,  as  they  journey  on,  helping  each 
■other  over  the  hard  places,  and  enjoying  to- 
gether the  smoother  ones  across  the  chang- 
ing stream  of  time. 

We  pause  here  a  moment,  in  this  account 
of  the  religious  history  of  Round  Prairie,  to 
notice  an  event  or  two  that  have  had  an  im- 
portant bearing  upon  our  history. 

During  the  summer  of  1835,  the  govern- 
ment land  sales  occurred,  resulting  in  many 
-changes  and  in  considerable  additions  to 
the  population  of  the  neighborhood.  A 
number  of  those  who  came  earlier,  and 
occupied  their  premises  by  p7^e-emption, 
were  without  means  to  pay  the  amount 
demanded  by  the  government  for  their 
lands,  and  were  glad  to  sell  their  "  claims  " 
and  "  improvements,"  and  obtain  in  this  way 
ihe  means  to  "  enter"  a  new  lot  upon  which 


Round  Prairie  and  PlymoutJi.  -x^}^ 

to  build  up  a  new  home.     Among  the   new 
arrivals   during  the  fall  of  this   season  were 
.several  families  from  New  England,  forming 
the  nucleus  of  a  society  distinct  from  that 
■already  here.     These  New  England  families 
were  scarcely  settled  in  their  new  locations 
until  they  began  to  cast  about  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  reliQ;ious   services  of  their  own 
preference,   and    in   October,   Rev.  William 
Kirby,  of  Mendon,  commenced  an  engage- 
ment to  supply  them  with  preaching  once  a 
month    for  one    year.       For    three    months 
these  services  were  held,  sometimes  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Burton,  and  sometimes  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Terrell,  who  had  bought  out 
and   now  occupied  the  Melton  claim,  south 
of  Plymouth.     About  the  close  of  the  year, 
an   addition  to  the  cabin  occupied  by  Capt. 
Norman   Hart,  on  the  west   side  of    Squire 
Burton's  place,  had  been  completed,  making 
it    the    most    commodious    building    in    the 
■neighborhood  for  meetings,  and  to  it  they 
were  transferred   and   continued   for  a  con- 
siderable  time.      At   this    place  —  now   Mr. 
Edward   Whipple's  —  a   few   rods    south   of 
•the  present  residence,  the  "  Congregational 
Church  of  Round  Prairie  "  was  organized, 
January  6th,  1836,  comprising  the  following- 
members  :  viz.,  Mr.  Nathan  Burton  and  his 


"^4  ^  History  of 


J 


wife  Sarah  F.,  with  their  children  Nathan  F.^ 
Rebecca  B.,  Daniel  W.,  and  Nancy  A. ;  Mr 
David  Adkins  and  his  wife  Asenath  ;  Mr. 
Benjamin  Terrell  and  his  wife  Electa,  with 
their  daughters  Maria  and  Mary  M.;  Mr- 
Samuel  Kasson  and  his  wife  Almira ;  Mn 
Lamarcus  A.  Cook  and  his  wife  Marietta  — 
received  by  letter,  —  sixteen;  Mr.  Henry  F. 
Burton,  Charles  Terrell,  A.  C.  Adkins,  Nor- 
man Hart,  Miss  Martha  Cook,  Rosetta  Cook, 
and  Lydia  B.  Adkins  —  received  upon  pro- 
fession of  their  faith,  —  seven.  Total  origi- 
nal membership,  twenty-three.  Of  these,, 
fourteen  are  still  living,  June,  1875;  eight 
of  them  still  resident  members,  and  have 
been  so  continuously,  or  nearly  so,  from  the 
organization  of  the  church.  A  ninth  has  re- 
cently become  a  resident  again,  but  has  not 
resumed  membership.  Of  the  surviving 
absent  ones,  we  may  note,  that  Mr.  Daniel 
W.  Burton  is  now,  and  for  some  years  past 
has  been,  in  Africa  as  a  missionary  of  the 
American  Missionary  Association.  Mrs.  Rev. 
George  Thompson  (Martha  Cook)  was  with 
her  husband  for  several  years  in  the  same 
field  —  was  driven  from  it  by  ill  health,  and  is 
now  in  a  Home  Missionary  field  in  northern 
Michigan.  Mr.  Norman  Hart  resides  near 
Fort    Dodge,  Iowa;  Charles  Terrell,  M.  D., 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply motith.  t^^ 

West  Geneva,  Michigan  ;  Mrs.  Lydia  B, 
Wilson  (Adkins),  in  Cambridge,  Henry  Co.^ 
Illinois.  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Reynard  (Terrell) 
has  recently  returned  to  Plymouth.  She,, 
with  her  husband,  Rev.  John  Reynard,  de- 
ceased—  a  Presbyterian  clergyman  —  were 
for  many  years  residents  of  Shullsburg,  Wis, 
After  her  husband's  death  she  resided  for  a 
time  with  her  family  in  Dixon,  Illinois,  and 
now  again  has  taken  up  her  abode  amid  the 
scenes  of  her  earlier  western  life. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

We  arrest  temporarily  the  chronological 
order  of  our  narrative,  that  we  may  go  back 
and  pick  up  some  threads  of  our  story  that 
need  to  be  woven  in  somewhere,  and  as  well 
here,  perhaps,  as  elsewhere.  The  "  Bread 
and  Butter  "  question  is  always  one  of  great 
practical  importance.  In  its  application  to* 
our  early  settlers,  perhaps  it  might  be  stated 
with  more  literal  accuracy  as  the  "  Hog  and 
Hominy"  question. 

Those  who  came  first,  in  1831-2,  from 
Morgan  County,  and  from  Rushville,  brought 
temporary  supplies  with  them,  of  Hour,  ba- 
con, etc.,  and  found  here  at  hand,  to  be  had 


36  A  Histojy  of 

for  even  moderate  skill  in  hunting,  game  in 
variety  and  great  abundance  ;  and  also,  as 
we  have  stated  before,  abundant  supplies  of 
honey. 

Rushville,  Beardstown  and  Quincy  were 
the  nearest  points  at  which  the  supplies  of 
"  breadstuffs  "  and  "  store  goods  "  could  be 
replenished.  The  necessary  trips  in  obtain- 
ing these  supplies  were  often  made  under 
great  difficulty  on  account  of  bad  roads  and 
lack  of  bridges.  The  construction  of  a  rude 
•"corn  cracker"  at  Brooklyn  in  1832,  in  con- 
nection with  a  saw-mill,  contributed  some- 
what to  the  solution  of  the  hominy  question. 
Hand-mills  were  made  and  used  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  flour  and  meal,  that  in  construc- 
tion and  results  would  have  done  credit  to 
Bible  lands  and  Bible  times  of  two  to  three 
thousand  years  ago.  The  remnants  of  one 
-of  these  mills  may  still  be  seen  on  the  prem- 
ises of  Mr.  N.  F.  Burton,  and  possibly  at 
other  places  in  the  neighborhood.  Our 
young  Bible  students  might  get  from  this, 
■Avith  a  little  explanation,  a  very  fair  idea  of 
the  machine  alluded  to,  in  the  following 
ipassage,  and  others :  "  Two  women  shall 
be  oTindinor  at  the  mill :  the  one  shall  be 
laken,  and  the  other  left." — Mat.  xxiv.  41. 

Milling  facilities  were  materially  improved 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymatith.         ij 

in  1834  by  the  introduction  of  a  pair  of 
burrs  and  a  bolt  into  the  mill  at  Brooklyn, 
by  means  of  which  a  fair  article  of  flour 
could  be  produced  when  there  was  sufficient 
water  to  drive  the  rude  machinery ;  but  this 
element  of  power  was  an  uncertain  quantity 
then,  as  now. 

A  still  further  advance  was  made  in  1835 
-'36,  in  the  erection  of  the  mill  at  Birming- 
ham, by  Messrs.  Graham  and  Wilson. 

Pao-es  miofht  be  filled  with  incidents  of 
hardship  and  privations,  if  not  of  actual  suf- 
fering, during  the  first  few  years  of  our  his- 
tory, but  it  is  not  our  purpose  to  spread  out 
such  details.  Game,  if  plenty  outside,  was 
not  always  so  inside  the  dwelling;  and  some 
of  our  ladies  can  tell,  with  earnest  feeling, 
how  thankful  they  were  to  have  even  a  dish 
of  "  mush  "  to  set  before  their  families  and 
such  guests  as  might  be  present  to  share 
their  hospitalities.  And  others  can  tell  of 
living  for  days  upon  beans  freshly  gathered 
from  the  field  and  cooked  with  such  meal  as 
could  be  sifted  out  from  wheat  bran,  while 
the  head  of  the  household  was  away  to  ob- 
tain addicional  supplies.  Such  pictures  are 
not  cheerful  enough  to  promote  digestion 
as  we  sit  around  our  well-filled  tables,  and 
we  turn  from  them,  to  say  that  the  question 


^8  A  History  of 

of  "  store  goods  "  at  that  time  was  one  of  far 
less  practical  importance  than  the  "hominy" 
question. 

Store  hair,  patent  humps,  false  complex- 
ions (or  the  means  to  make  them  so),  and 
numberless  and  nameless  other  traps  and 
appliances  that  go  to  make  up  the  modern 
lady,  and  are  furnished  to  order  by  the 
modern  merchant,  were  not  greatly  in 
demand  at  the  time  of  which  we  write. 
Thrifty  mothers  and  daughters  were  well 
■clad  in  warm  flannels  and  stout  linseys  of 
their  own  make,  while  fathers  and  brothers 
rejoiced  in  substantial  homespun  of  the 
same  manufacture.  Stores  at  the  distance 
of  thirty  or  forty  miles  from  one's  home, 
undoubtedly  has  a  tendency  to  simplify 
one's  wants. 

Our  first  settlers  could  hardly  be  classed 
as  a  literary  people,  and  had  they  been,  their 
taste  in  that  line  would  have  been  orratified 
only  under  difficulties.  Until  May,  1834, 
Rushville  was  the  nearest  post  office,  and 
as  most  of  our  settlers  at  that  time  had 
come  by  w^ay  of  Rushville,  they  naturally 
gravitated  that  way  for  such  facilities  as 
surroundinor  towns  afforded.  At  the  date 
just  named,  a  post  office  was  established  in 
Auofusta.       This     brouoht    communication 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.  39 

■with  distant  friends   and  the  outside  world 
generally,  quite  within  convenient  reach. 

Of  schools,  in  these  early  times  of  our  his- 
tory, there  is  little  to  be  said.  Foundations 
were  laid,  however,  upon  which  a  goodly 
structure  has  grown  up,  of  which  we  now 
enjoy  the  benefits.  There  being  but  little 
public  funds  from  which  to  draw  in  their 
support,  schools  could  only  be  maintained  by 
'' subscription^'  Such  a  school  was  ''kept]'  or 
^'taught'" — which  is  the  proper  word  to  use 
in  this  case,  we  have  been  unable  to  learn  — 
b\'  Mr.  James  A.  Bell,  of  North  Carolina,  in 
the  fall  of  1834.  The  cabin  used  as  a  school 
house  had  been  built  for  a  residence,  and 
vacated  by  the  death  of  its  occupant,  Mr. 
Wm.  Manlove.  It  stood  perhaps  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  north,  and  a  little  east,  of  the  edi- 
fice usually,  but  very  inappropriately,  called 
"  The  Round  Top."  After  being  used  one 
term  in  this  location,  it  was  taken  down  and 
moved  to  the  west  side  of  the  grove,  north- 
west from  and  near  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Solomon  Twidwell.  Here  it  did  service  for 
the  public  some  years  as  a  school  house,  a 
place  for  Sunday  schools,  and  occasionally 
for  other  religious  services. 


40  A  History  of 


CHAPTER    VII. 

We  have  now  reached  a  point  in  our  his- 
tory that  marks  a  new  departure.  So  far 
no  center  had  been  fixed  upon,  around 
which  the  present  and  future  business  of 
the  neighborhood,  with  its  public,  religious, 
literary,  or  other  institutions,  should  event- 
ually  crystallize. 

Such  a  center  was  established  January 
1 2th — 19th,  1836,  by  the  survey  and  staking 
out  of  the  town  of  Plymouth  in  the  center 
of  section  36,  township  4  N.,  5  W.,  James 
Brattle,  surveyor. 

Other  similar  enterprises  had  begun  to 
incubate  in  fertile  brains,  for  other  localities- 
within  our  bounds,  one  of  which  we  shall 
find  coming  to  the  surface  presently,  but  the 
site  chosen  for  Plymouth  fairly  got  the  start 
and  won  the  race. 

The  proprietors  of  the  town  were  John 
W.  Crocket,  James  Clark,  Benjamin  Terrell 
and  Lamarcus  A.  Cook.  The  two  latter 
were  from  Plymouth,  Connecticut,  hence  the 
name  of  our  town.  Clark  and  Crocket  were 
from  Kentucky  —  the  latter  a  near  relative 
of  Colonel  David  Crocket,  noted  as  a  hero 
in    the    Texan   war    of    independence,   and 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply mottth.         41 

whose  great  exploits  as  a  hunter  have  been 
spread  far  and  wide  through  the  pages  of 
a  comic  almanac  bearing  his  name.  The 
parties  named  above  had  succeeded  to  the 
ownership  of  their  various  premises,  the 
original  pre-emptors,  as  follows  :  viz.,  J.  W. 
Crocket  succeeded  Allen  Melton  in  the 
ownership  of  the  N.  E.  quarter  of  the  sec- 
tion ;  James  Clark  succeeded  John  Trammel 
in  that  of  the  N.  W.  quarter  ;  Benjamin  Ter- 
rell, in  the  claim  of  Matthew  Melton  to  the 
S.  W.  quarter,  and  L.  A.  Cook  to  that  of 
Solomon  Stanley  to  the  S.  E.  quarter. 
From  each  of  these  premises  twelve  acres 
and  a  half  were  set  apart  —  fifty  acres  in  all 
—  for  the  town  plat,  and  was  laid  out  into 
lots,  with  the  necessary  streets,  etc.  The 
location  was  a  good  one,  occupying  a  fine 
ridge  of  land,  marred  only  by  its  proximity 
to  an  unsightly  frog-pond  in  the  locality 
now  occupied  by  the  depot,  which  remained 
until  it  was  drained  by  the  building  of  the 
railroad.  Lots  were  sold  and  the  work  of 
building  up  a  town  commenced  at  once. 
Sevier  Tadlock  led  off  in  the  building 
enterprise  by  the  erection  of  a  house  on 
the  west  side  of  block  10,  lot  6,  corner  of 
Franklin  street  and  Public  Square — the  lot 
now  occupied  by  M.  D.  Gillis. 
4 


42  A  History  of 

This  building  was  ready  for  use  in  the 
spring  of  1836,  and  answered  the  triple  pur- 
pose of  dwelling,  hotel  and  store.  Benjamin 
Whittaker  had  anticipated  the  completion 
of  the  store  room  somewhat,  and  brought  a 
stock  of  goods  that  were  stored  for  a  time 
in  a  shanty  on  the  next  corner  north  —  cor- 
ner Franklin  and  Winter  streets.  These 
were  moved  into  Tadlock's  building  as  soon 
as  it  was  ready  for  use.  During  the  summer, 
Jesse  Buzan  built  on  block  9,  lot  9  —  corner 
W.  Main  and  Public  Square  —  the  lot  now 
occupied  by  Albert  Walty.  To  one  of  the 
rooms  of  this  building,  when  completed, 
Whittaker  removed  his  store. 

Another  store  was  opened  during  the 
season,  on  the  same  block,  lot  7,  north  of 
Buzan's,  in  a  cabin  on  the  premises  now 
occupied  by  Bidwell  Bros.  &  Boman.  This 
was  owned  by  one  Vanest  and  run  by  an 
eccentric  relig^ionist  who  was  so  "  fervent  in 
spirit "  that  he  often  forgot  to  be  "  diligent 
in  business,"  and  would  go  off  sometimes  for 
a  whole  day,  leaving  the  store  open  and  un- 
attended, while  he  was  engaged  in  "  serving 
the  Lord"  by  visitation  and  conversation 
with  the  people. 

A  cabinet  shop  was  added  to  the  indus- 
trial  enterprises    of  the   town   this    season, 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         43 


also,  bv  Carroll  O'Neil.  His  buildino-  was 
located  on  the  east  side  of  the  square  — 
block  15,  lot  2,  now  occupied  by  Miller  & 
Metzgar's  hardware  store.  In  this  shop  the 
Plymouth  post-office  was  first  opened  in  the 
fall  of  1836  —  Carroll  O'Neil,  post-master. 

Among  the  other  improvements  of  the 
town  in  this  first  year  of  its  history,  were 
the  residences  of  Jesse  W.  Bell,  on  block  1 1, 
lots  J  and  2,  and  of  John  W.  Crocket,  on 
block  12,  lot  6  —  the  latter  now  occupied  by 
N.  H.  Grafton  ;  (and  also  of  Benjamin  Ter- 
rell, on  block  16,  lot  6)  now  the  premises 
of  Mr.  Terry.  Late  in  the  season  a  public 
school  building  was  put  up  on  block  1 1.  For 
about  fifteen  years  this  building  served  the 
town  as  its  only  school  house,  place  for  pub- 
lic religious  worship,  and  the  general  pur- 
poses of  a  town  hall.  The  first  school  in 
this  building  was  taught  by  Rev.  William 
King  in  the  winter  following  its  erection. 
The  next  by  Charles  Terrell,  the  following 
summer. 

We  may  pause  here  in  this  running  rec- 
ord of  material  progress  to  notice  the  plant- 
incT  of  a  CTerm  that,  notwithstandinor  a  life 
of  weakness  and  poverty,  has  become  one 
of  the  prominent  moral  forces  that  have 
been   brought   to  bear  upon  the  people  of 


44  A  Histoi'y  of 

Plymouth :  we  refer  to  the  organization  of 
the  Pi^esbyterian  Church  of  Plymouth.  This 
occurred  November  19th,  1836.  The  meet- 
inof  was  held  in  Buzan's  house  on  the  west 
side  of  the  square.  Rev.  Reuben  McCoy, 
of  Clayton,  was  present  to  assist  in  the  or- 
ganization, which  comprised  the  following 
original  membership :  viz.,  Mary  King,  Sr.; 
Samuel  King  and  Martha  King,  his  wife  ; 
Maria  Clark,  Martha  Buzan,  Robert  Hall 
and  Ann  Hall,  his  wife ;  Louisa  Crocket, 
Louisa  Bell,  John  M.  King  and  his  wife  Re- 
becca E,,  and  their  daughter  Margaret  A. 
King. 

Samuel  King  and  John  M.  King  were 
elected  elders.  Rev.  William  M.  King  was 
emplo3'ed  as  stated  supply,  and  his  name 
appears  on  the  records  as  moderator  of  the 
session  until  1843,  during  which  time  forty- 
seven  additional  members  were  added  to  the 
rolls  of  the  church.  During  a  portion  of  this 
time  the  meetino-s  of  the  church  were  held 
in  the  school  house  to  which  reference  has 
already  been  made. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         45 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  growth  of  Plymouth  in  1837  was  not 
large,  but  some  notes  may  be  made  marking 
progress.  A  building  was  put  up  on  the 
west  side  of  the  square,  block  16,  lot  2  — 
where  Bybee  &  Terry  now  are  —  in  the 
winter  of  '36  and  '^il^  for  Isaac  Smith.  About 
this  time  the  Buzan  building  was  burned  out, 
involving  Whittaker's  store,  which  was  then 
re-established  in  the  building  just  referred 
to.  The  Buzan  buildinor  was  rebuilt  during 
the  following  summer. 

Two  other  business  establishments  were 
opened  up  early  in  '2)T'  o"^  by  Samuel 
Doyle,  in  the  Tadlock  building ;  the  other 
by  Thomas  Deane,  on  block  i  7,  where  the 
Presbyterian  Church  now  stands,  both  of 
which  included,  with  other  merchandise, 
stocks  of  liquors.  Doyle  afterwards  bought 
and  occupied  the  Buzan  buildine.  Amone 
the  new-comers  for  this  year  were  two  young 
men  whose  career  has  left  a  lasting  impres- 
sion on  the  community  in  which  they  locat- 
ed. One  of  these,  H.  P.  Griswold,  M.  D., 
made  his  home,  for  a  time,  with  Mr.  Hub- 
bard, on  Round  Prairie,  about  a  mile  south 
of  east  from  Plymouth;  but  after  his  mar- 


46  A  History  of 

riage,  located  and  built  in  Plymouth,  on 
block  15,  corner  of  East  Main  street  and 
the  Public  Square. 

During  a  period  of  thirteen  or  fourteen 
years  of  a  large  and  successful  practice  in 
his  profession,  he  endeared  himself  to  the 
large  community  in  which  he  labored,  and 
in  the  meantime  secured  a  competence,  upon 
which  he  retired  from  our  midst  to  the  more 
quiet  life  of  an  agriculturist  and  horticultur- 
ist, locating  in  Wythe  township,  near  War- 
saw, and  afterwards  removing  to  Oakwood, 
where  he  still  resides. 

The  other  young  man  referred  to  above 
—  William  M.  King,  Esq. —  is  growing  old 
among  us  in  the  prosecution  of  the  longest 
term  of  business  enterprise  of  any  one  in 
our  hlston^  He  built,  and  established  him- 
self in  business  on  the  south  side  of  the 
square,  on  block  15,  lot  8;  commencing  as  a 
harness  maker,  and  changrino-  afterwards  to 
general  merchandise,  has  prosecuted  the 
latter  continuously  and  successfully  up  to 
the  present  time  ;  and  now,  in  connection 
with  his  sons,  upon  a  larger  scale  than  ever 
before.  Quiet  and  retiring  in  manner,  he 
has  never  sought  position,  yet  his  townsmen 
have  honored  him  with  public  trusts  and 
responsibilities  through  nearly  the  whole  of 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         47 

his  life  among  them,  his  name  having  ever 
been  a  synonym  for  sterling  integrity  of 
character. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1837,  the  patriotism 
of  Plymouth  cropped  out  largely,  manifest- 
ing itself  in  the  form  of  a  "  regular  old- 
fashioned  southern  barbectie"  Some  of  our 
readers  may  wish  to  know  more  definitely 
what  this  may  have  meant ;  so  we  attempt 
a  brief  description.  In  a  general  way  it 
meant  a  free  dinner  to  all  who  would  come 
to  partake  of  it,  and  free  drinks  to  the 
thirsty  from  the  best  wells  of  Plymouth, 
The  liquor  shops  were  closed  on  that  occa- 
sion by  previous  agreement  between  the 
dealers  and  the  committee  in  charge  of  the 
entertainment. 

More  accurately  a  barbecue  refers  to  the 
style  of  cookery  adopted  in  preparing  the 
meats  for  the  dinner.  Mr.  Allen  Melton, 
chief  manager  on  this  occasion,  says  that  in 
the  street  just  east  of  Mr.  A.  Walty's  place 
a  trench  was  dug,  large  enough,  that  when 
thoroughly  heated,  served  as  an  oven  over 
which  one  whole  beef,  two  hogs  and  two 
sheep  were  cooked  at  once.  The  process 
of  roasting  commenced  about  midnight  and 
continued  until  the  dinner  hour.  A  table 
over  100  feet  in  length  was  prepared  on  the 


48  A  History  of 

square,  upon  which  the  dinner  was  spread 
and  partaken  of  by  perhaps  500  or  600  per- 
sons. Sidney  A.  Little,  Esq.,  of  Carthage, 
was  the  orator  of  the  day.  The  expenses 
of  the  entertainment  were  expected  to  have 
been  met  by  the  contributions  of  the  citizens, 
and  were  so  met  in  part,  and  "  Uncle  Allen  " 
generously  pocketed  the  deficiency  C^^),  twenty 
odd  dollars,  and  turned  the  remnants  of  the 
dinner  over  to  Tadlock,  at  whose  hotel  the 
day  closed  with  a  grand  4th  of  July  ball,  the 
guests  being  served  with  refreshments  from 
the  above  stock  at  twenty-five  cents  per 
head. 

During  this  season  an  effort  was  made  to 
build  up  a  rival  town  on  Round  Prairie, 
about  a  mile  from  Plymouth,  on  the  place 
of  Mr.  Sullivan  Searle.  A  few  buildings 
were  put  up  ;  one  of  them  still  remains  on 
the  original  site,  nearly  opposite  the  resi- 
dence of  Deacon  Searle;  another  stood  for 
many  years  a  little  east  from  this  ;  another 
was  moved  to  the  east  line  of  the  place,  and 
still  remains  near  the  place  of  Mr.  George 
Collins ;  and  still  another  was  moved  half  a 
mile  away,  to  the  place  now  owned  by  Mr. 
Jeff^ries. 

This  nameless  town  —  outsiders  called  it 
"  Yankee  Town,"  a  name  that  adheres  to  the 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply?nouth.         49 

locality  still  —  did  not  survive  the  pressure 
of  the  few  succeeding  years  ;  and  this  histor- 
ical statement  concerning  it,  would  be  of 
little  importance,  except  that  it  reveals  one 
of  the  leading  causes  that  led  to  the  build- 
ing  of  the  first  place  of  worship  for  the  Con- 
gregational Church  at  a  point  so  distant 
from  Plymouth  as  practically  to  lose  much 
of  Its  power  as  a  moral  force  upon  the  town. 
This  church  was  built  upon  the  site  of  the 
proposed  town,  nearly  opposite  Deacon 
Searles'  residence,  and  after  the  abandon- 
ment of  the  town  enterprise,  was  moved  to 
the  east  line  of  the  place,  just  at  the  corner 
where  the  road  turns  south. 

Its  location  here  was  central  and  conven- 
ient to  the  membership  of  the  church,  and 
Plymouth  was  of  such  small  proportions  at 
that  time,  that  the  error  in  location  did  not 
appear  prominently  until  the  increasing 
importance  of  Plymouth  brought  it  more 
clearly  to  view,  and  then,  seventeen  years 
later,  it  was  remedied,  so  far  as  might  be,  by 
rebuilding  in  Plymouth. 

Having  previously  noticed  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Round 
Prairie,  the  building  of  the  first  house  of 
worship,  in  the  fall  of  1837,  for  this  society, 
marks  an  important  era  in  our  history.     Its 


50  A  HistoTy  of 

location  has  just  been  noticed  ;  its  size  was 
2  2  by  28  feet  —  ample  for  the  society  then 
and  for  a  number  of  years  afterwards. 

After  serving  its  time  in  a  public  capacity, 
it  was  removed  to  Plymouth  and  converted 
into  a  private  dwelling,  and  is  doing  good 
service  as  such  yet.  The  "  Old  Church  "  of 
1837,  standing,  as  it  does,  in  the  rear  of,  and 
next  to,  the  "New  Church"  of  1854,  the 
contrast  in  the  two  marks  plainly  material 
progress  made  in  this  interval  of  time. 

The  Concrre^ational  Church  building-  of 
1837  makes  a  convenient  landmark  from 
which  to  survey  the  religious  history  of  the 
community  for  a  considerable  period  of 
time.  Following  Rev.  Will-iam  Kirby's 
labors  in  1835-36,  Rev.  Anson  Hubbard 
served  the  Conorreq^ational  Church  as  stated 
supply  temporarily.  One  G.  C.  Sampson"^' 
—  at  this  time  a  resident  of  Plymouth, 
by  turns  lawyer,  teacher  and  preacher  — de- 
voted  a  portion  of  his   time  while  here  to 

*  The  legend  prevails  quite  generally  hereabouts,  that  the 
Rev.  Sampson,  Esq.,  was  respc^nsible  for  the  introduction  and 
dissemination,  as  a  choice  variety  of  onion,  of  the  Indian  Alallow, 
known  to  botanists  as  Almtilon  Avicenna  or  Sida  Abiitilon  ac- 
cording to  Linnceus. 

Although  there  is  no  proof  upon  which  to  base  the  legend, 
and  the  gentleman  himself  says  of  it,  "  The  story  made  a  good 
joke,  but  lacked  entirely  the  essential  element  of  truthfulness," 
the  historical  fact  remains  that  the  plant  is  generally  known  in 
this  vicinity  as  Sampson^ s  Onion. 


Round  Prairie  a?id  Plymouth.         5 1 

the   profession  last   named,  and   for  a  time 
served  the  church  as  pastor. 

The  records  of  the  church  note  next  the 
services  of  Rev.  Kent  Hawley  as  supply  for 
three  months  of  the  year  1839;  Rev.  C.  E. 
Murdock  in  1840;  and  of  Revs.  Williams 
and  Austin  during  1841-42.  This  record 
for  1837-42  inclusive,  runs  parallel  with 
the  term  of  service  rendered  by  Rev.  Will- 
iam King  for  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Plymouth;  and  at  times  during  this  term, 
the  two  streams  of  influence  —  one  from  the 
town,  the  other  from  the  country  —  con- 
vereed  and  interminorled.  After  the  school 
house  was  built  in  Plymouth,  and  previous 
to  the  completion  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  the  two  societies  frequently  met 
and  worshiped  together  in  the  school  house. 
The  services  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
were  irregular  at  the  school  house,  for  the 
reason  that  it  was  open  to  other  preaching, 
and  frequently  so  used ;  so  that  after  the 
buildine  of  the  Consfrecjational  Church,  the 
Plymouth  society  more  frequently  met  with 
them.  During  a  portion  of  Rev.  William 
Kind's  labors,  he  served  both  societies 
jointly  at  the  Congregational  Church.  The 
records  of  neither  society  show  any  pastoral 
labor  for    1843.      Rev.  William   C.   Rankin 


r 


52  A  History  of 

preached  at  the  Congregational  Church  in 
1844,  At  the  close  of  this  year  a  joint  ar- 
rangement was  made,  by  the  two  societies, 
with  Rev.  Milton  Kimball,  of  Augusta,  by 
which  he  served  both  at  the  Congregational 
Church.  This  arrangement  continued  until 
in  1850. 

The  beginning  of  the  Sunday  school  work 
has  been  noticed  in  the  record  for  1835. 

The  New  England  families  who  came  that 
fall  took  hold  of  the  work  they  found  thus 
begun,  and  labored  earnestly  in  its  prose- 
cution, and  afterwards  for  a  time  in  its  ex- 
tension to  surroundino-  neighborhoods. 

The  Sunday  school  that  had  been  inaugu- 
rated by  Samuel  King  and  family,  and  held 
in  the  Manlove-Wheeler  blacksmith  shop, 
at  the  Burton  grove,  soon  after  fell  more 
especially  under  the  management  of  'Squire 
Burton's  family  and  their  associates  of  the 
Congregational  Church;  and  without  very 
material  interruption  of  its  line  of  succes- 
sion, has  followed  the  history  of  that  church 
in  its  location,  its  work,  and  its  influence, 
down  to  the  present  day.  From  that  as  a 
centre,  Sunday  school  mission  work  of  more 
or  less  importance  has  radiated  in  various 
directions.  As  more  intimately  connected 
with  it  in  point  of  time,  we  may  mention  a 


Round  Praii'ie  and  PlyinoiUh.         53 

Sunday  school  conducted  by  Mr.  Asahel 
Hubbard,  at  Able  Friend's  house,  in  the 
northeast  part  of  the  neighborhood  —  now 
Mr.  John  Smith's  place.  In  those  days 
there  lived  a  "mighty  hunter"  in  that  vicin- 
ity, who  found  but  little  time  for  his  favor- 
ite sport,  except  upon  the  Sabbath.  He  was 
often  invited  and  uro^ed  to  attend  the  Sun- 
day  school,  but  found  a  ready  excuse  in  the 
pressing  demands  of  the  chase.  It  was  often 
his  delight,  with  gun  and  dogs,  to  precede 
the  superintendent  on  his  way  to  Sunday 
school,  and  make  the  day  hideous  with  his 
yelping  hounds  and  occasional  discharges 
of  his  gun ;  but  the  mighty  hunter  was  him- 
self hunted,  by  the  spirit  of  grace  in  answer 
to  prayer,  and  wounded  by  a  guilty  con- 
science, and  finally  brought  in  humble  sub- 
mission into  the  fold.  Entering  upon  a 
better  life,  for  twenty  years  of  his  subse- 
quent history  he  was  personally  engaged  in 
Sunday  school  mission  work  as  superintend- 
ent, in  his  own  and  various  surrounding 
neighborhoods. 

We  notice  another  mission  school,'  con- 
ducted bv  Mr.  N.  F.  Burton  and  Mr.  A.  C. 
Adkins,  south  of  Round  Prairie,  on  "  Nubbin 
Ridge,"  and  another  in  the  "  Rice  Settle- 
ment," northeast,  conducted  by  Messrs.  N. 


54  ^  Histoi'y  of 

F.  Burton  and  Charles  Terrell.  To  the  lat- 
ter gentleman  this  work  undoubtedly  proved 
a  labor  of  love  in  more  than  one  respect,  as 
it  was  there  he  found  a  wife. 

Still  another  Sunday  school  was  held  for 
a  time  in  the   school  house   near  Mr.  Solo- 
.  mon  Twidwell's,  conducted  by  members  of 
Mr.  Samuel   King's  family.     Also,  during  a 
portion  of  Rev.  William  King's  ministry  in 
Plymouth,  a  Sunday  school  was  held  in  the 
school    house    in    Plymouth    in    connection 
with  his  services  ;  and  during  the  same  pe- 
riod, Mr.  King  preached  occasionally  near 
Birmingham,   sometimes    at    the    Lansden 
place  and  sometimes  at  the  adjoining  Man- 
iove  place,  and   sometimes  at  Mr.  William 
Irwin's,  west  of  Plymouth.      In  connection 
with     both    these     appointments,     Sunday 
schools  were  held,  the  one   at    Birmingham 
conducted  by  Mr.  Samuel   King,  and  after- 
wards by  his   son,  James  G.  King,  or  per- 
haps by  his  brother  Carr.     The  one  west  of 
Plymouth   was    conducted   by  Mr.   William 
Irwin   and   Mr.  Emsley  Jackson,  and   after- 
wards  by  Mr,  G.  A.  Gaylord.     We   cannot 
now  fix  the  date  of  these  various   efforts   in 
Sunday  school  work  definitely,  but  may  say 
that  their  beginnings  may  be  placed  some- 
where between  1837  ^^^  1843  inclusive.     It 


Rou7id  Prairie  and  Plymojiih.         55 

is  doubtful  if  any  of  these  mission  enter- 
prises have  had  a  continuous  existence  since 
their  orQ^anization,  but  most  of  them  have 
maintained  a  somewhat  broken  line  of  suc- 
cession, and  they  are  noted  as  moral  influ- 
ences radiating  from  Round  Prairie  and 
Plymouth,  that  are  worthy  of  record  here. 

During  the  summer  of  1837,  Rev.  Albert 
Hale,  of  Springfield,  who  was  out  on  a  pros- 
pecting tour  in  the  interest  of  missions; 
Rev.  —  Lippincott,  of  Jacksonville,  on  a 
similar  tour  in  the  interest  of  Sunday 
schools;  and  Rev.  William  Carter,  after- 
wards of  Pittsfield,  then  prospecting  with  a 
view  to  a  permanent  settlement,  met  inci- 
dentally—  or,  more  properly,  providentially 
—  on  Round  Prairie,  and  at  once  com- 
menced a  series  of  meetings  ihat  were  held 
in  Mr.  Burton's  barn  that  had  been  lately 
raised,  but  on  account  of  delay  in  getting 
lumber,  was  yet  un inclosed.  These  meet- 
ings continued  about  two  weeks,  and  result- 
ed in  material  accessions  to  the  church. 

We  notice  here  a  similar  meeting  held  by 
the  Methodist  brethren,  in  the  spring  of 
1 84 1,  at  Mr.  Byrd  Smith's  place  —  now  Mr. 
William  Holton's.  The  residence  then  was 
south  of  the  present  one,  on  the  ridge,  and 
near  the  east  line  of  the  place.     Rev.  Will- 


56  A  History  of 

iam  Royal  was  the  preacher  in  charge  at  that 
time,  but  his  duties  on  the  circuit  were  such 
that  he  could  only  be  at  this  meeting  at  his 
regular  appointments. 

This  work  was  commenced  by  two  young 
men  from  the  Mission  Institute  in  Ouincy, 
Elias  Kirkland  and  George  Thompson,  and 
carried  on  mainly  by  the  following  local 
preachers :  Rev,  Henry  Bell,  Rev.  Solomon 
Pendarvis,  and  Rev.  George  Jackson.  This 
is  noted  as  the  first  general  revival  in  the 
history  of  the  M.  E.  Church  on  Round  Prai- 
rie; and  perhaps  the  most  notable  incident 
connected  with  it  was  the  conversion  of  the 
"mighty  hunter"  to  whom  allusion  has  been 
made,  and  who  stands  foremost  among  the 
notable  characters  of  our  history. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

The  period  of  which  we  now  write  was  an 
eventful  one.  A  wave  of  speculative  excite- 
ment, and  of  apparent  prosperity,  had  swept 
over  the  whole  State.  A  gigantic  system 
of  internal  improvements  had  just  been  pro- 
jected, embracing  many  of  the  more  impor- 
tant lines  of  railroad  built  within  the  State 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         5  7 

since  1850,  together  with  the  completion  of 
the  IlHnois  and  Michigan  Canal,  and  numer- 
ous river  improvements  ;  building  towns  — 
on  paper,  and  otherwise  —  was  a  prominent 
feature  in  the  speculative  fever.  Town  lots 
were  one  of  the  most  important  items  of 
merchandise  in  home  and  eastern  markets ; 
paper  money,  ground  out  of  a  State  bank 
mill,  without  substantial  basis,  was  plenty ; 
the  flood  tide  of  speculation  was  reached. 
In  the  midst  of  this  excitement,  Plymouth 
was  born  and  passed  the  first  year  of  its 
history.  It  seemed  healthy  and  promising; 
its  parents  and  friends  had  high  hopes  of 
its  rapid  growth  and  strong  manhood,  but 
unfortunately,  "great  expectations"  concern- 
ing it  were  not  realized. 

A   COLLAPSE. 

A  change  came  over  the  spirit  of  men's 
dreams;  times  changed  ;  with  1837  a  finan- 
cial crisis  swept  over  the  whole  country ; 
banks  suspended ;  internal  improvements 
could  not  be  carried  on  ;  our  State  system 
collapsed  so  completely,  that  for  a  dozen 
years  private  enterprise  did  not  undertake 
the  work  the  State  had  wrecked  so  thor- 
oughly ;  the  State  Bank,  bolstered  up,  in  a 
suspended   condition,  by  State  bonds   for  a 

5 


58  A  History  oj 

time,  succumbed  in  a  few  years,  and  went 
"to  the  dogs;"  speculation  generally  was 
thoroughly  checked.  Under  such  circum- 
stances, and  in  such  a  financial  atmosphere, 
Plymouth  entered  its  second  year  of  life  ; 
that  it  lived  through,  and  bore  what  soon 
followed,  is  conclusive  proof  of  a  vigorous 
constitution.  The  young  town  staggered 
aloncr  under  these  adverse  influences  for 
two  or  three  years,  and  then  the  Mormon 
blight  fell  upon  it,  in  common  with  the 
whole  county. 

THE    MORMONS 

came  into  the  county  and  located  in  Nauvoo 
in  1839-40.  They  were  driven  out  in  1846. 
During  this  time  they  managed  to  inflict 
incalculable  damage  upon  all  the  commu- 
nities that  came  within  the  range  of  their 
influence  and  depredations.  It  is  not  our 
purpose  to  enter  upon  a  general  history  of 
Mormonism,  yet  some  general  facts  concern- 
ing them  are  necessary  to  explain  the  blight- 
ing influence  they  exerted  upon  our  commu- 
nity and  others,  to  show  why  the  citizens 
became  so  exasperated  against  them,  and 
to  lead  the  way  to  some  incidents  concern- 
ing them,  in  our  local  history,  that  we  think 
will  be  of  interest  to  our  readers. 


Round  Prairie  a7id  Plymouth.         59 

For  such  general  facts  as  we  give,  we  are 
indebted  mainly  to  Ford's  History  of  Illinois. 

As  the  sacred  books  of  a  people  have 
much  to  do  with  the  formation  of  their  prin- 
ciples and  character,  we  notice,  first,  the 
origin  of  the  so-called  Mormon  Bible,  or 
l^ooK  OF  Mormon.  Good  Mormons  are 
expected  to  believe  its  origin  to  be  as  fol- 
lows, viz :  that  their  prophet,  Joseph  Smith, 
under  the  direction  of  an  angel,  found,  near 
Palmyra,  New  York,  a  stone  box  containing 
golden  plates,  like  sheets  of  tin,  on  which 
were  inscribed,  in  strange  hieroglyphic  char- 
acters, the  records  which,  when  translated, 
formed  the  Book  of  Mormon.  The  prophet 
was  enabled  to  translate  these  records  by 
direct  revelation,  aided  by  a  pair  of  specta- 
cles formed  of  two  transparent  stones,  found 
in  the  stone  box  containing  the  Qfolden 
plates  —  all  of  which  story  is  confirmed  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  faithful,  by  the  testi- 
mony of  a  few  of  the  prophet's  most  admir- 
ing followers  —  none  others,  of  course,  would 
be  permitted  to  meddle  with  or  behold  such 
sacred  mysteries. 

Gentile  unbelievers  in  Mormonism  have 
a  way  of  accounting  for  the  origin  of  the 
Mormon  Bible  that  strips  it  of  all  this  beau- 
tiful   romance    and    miracle,  and    brings    it 


6o  A  History  of 

down,  from  the  high  plane  of  revelation,  to 
the  low  level  of  a  religious  novel.  The  story 
is  this  :  that  Sidney  Rigdon,  one  of  Smith's 
earliest  associates  in  establishino-  Mormon- 
ism,  manufactured  the  Book  of  Mormon  from 
a  religious  romance  on  the  ten  lost  tribes  of 
Israel,  written  by  a  Presbyterian  clergyman 
of  Ohio.  We  do  not  attempt  to  prove  that 
either  horn  of  the  dilemma  is  the  true  one, 
but  leave  our  readers  to  take  their  choice. 

We  notice,  in  the  second  place,  a  great 
moral  principle  drawn  from  the  above 
source  —  or  a  better  one  —  viz.,  that  "  The 
earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the  fullness  there- 
of." In  deciding  the  probabilities  of  the 
real  origin  of  this  important  proposition, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  Psalms,  xxiv.  i. 
We  do  not  stop  to  discuss  the  question,  but 
proceed  at  once  to  state,  thirdly,  a  remark- 
able claim  founded  upon  the  principle  stated 
—  a  claim  which  their  o-entile  neio-hbors 
think  led  the  Mormons  into  great  immoral- 
ities in  their  practice.  The  claim  was  sub- 
stantially this :  The  Mormons  being  the 
peculiar  chosen  people  of  the  Lord,  had,  in 
consequence  of  this  relation,  full  right  to  all 
the  "fullness  of  the  earth"  that  they  desired, 
or  that  might  be  made  to  contribute  in  any 
way  to   their  wants,  their  comfort,  or  their 


m\ 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         6i 

happiness.  In  other  words,  gentiles  "had 
no  rights  that  Mormons  were  bound  to  re- 
spect." The  enforcement  of  such  claims 
naturally  led  to  unpleasant  relations  be- 
tween the  Mormons  and  their  ofentile  neiofh- 
bors,  of  which  more  hereafter.     We  notice, 

Fourthly,  some  remarkable  powers  con- 
ferred by  the  legislature  of  Illinois,  in  the 
charter  of  Nauvoo,  giving  the  Mormons  a 
legal  right  to  enforce  such  claims  as  we 
have  stated  above,  and  virtually  making 
them  independent  of  all  laws,  except  such 
as  they  chose  to  enact  and  enforce. 

It  seems  incredible  that  any  legislature 
outside  of  a  lunatic  asylum  should  confer 
such  powers  upon  any  community  ;  and  its 
explanation  brings  to  light  one  of  the  curi- 
osities of  political  log-rolling.  An  exciting 
election  was  at  hand ;  the  parties  were 
evenly  divided,  and  both  were  anxious  to 
secure  the  Mormon  vote.  The  Mormons 
saw  their  opportunity,  and  made  good  use 
of  it ;  they  fixed  their  charter  to  suit  them- 
selves, and  sent  a  shrewd  agent  to  Spring- 
field with  it,  who  found  both  parties  only 
too  ready  to  favor  any  claims  the  Mormons 
might  present,  on  condition  of  receiving  the 
Mormon  vote  ;  and  with  the  expectation  of 
getting  such  vote,  each  party  vied  with  the 


62  A   History  of 

other  in  hurrying  the  measure  through. 
The  result  was,  this  remarkable  charter 
passed  both  houses  of  the  legislature  with- 
out any  opposition  ;  the  ayes  and  noes  were 
not  even  called  for. 

In  many  respects  this  document  was  pur- 
posely ambiguous  ;  but  the  only  visible  legal 
limits  to  the  powers  conferred,  were  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States  and  of 
this  State.  That  it  was  construed  by  the 
Mormons  as  giving  them  power  to  disre- 
gard the  laws  of  the  State,  is  sufficiently 
proved  by  the  following  provisions  of  a  city 
ordinance  passed  under  the  provisions  of 
their  charter. 

We  quote  as  follows  :  "No  writ  issued 
from  any  other  place  than  Nauvoo,  for  the 
arrest  of  any  one  in  it,  should  be  executed 
in  the  city,  without  an  approval  endorsed 
thereon  by  the  mayor ;  that  if  any  public 
officer,  by  virtue  of  any  foreign  writ,  should 
attempt  to  make  an  arrest  in  the  city  with- 
out such  approval  of  his  power,  he  should 
be  subject  to  imprisonment  for  life ;  and 
that  the  Governor  of  the  State  should  not 
have  the  power  of  pardoning  the  offender, 
without  the  consent  of  the  mayor." 

Joe  Smith  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  ; 
was  also  judge  of  the  municipal  court  which 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         63 

had  charge  of  the  execution  of  their  laws 
and  ordinances.  By  securing  to  himself 
such  legal  positions  as  he  desired,  and  by 
his  personal  influence  over  his  followers,  he 
was  in  fact  absolutely  supreme  in  the  man- 
agement of  all  Mormon  affairs. 

To  enable  the  Mormons  to  supplement 
their  extraordinary  legal  powers  by  adequate 
military  power,  we  notice. 

Fifthly,  the  Nazrooo  Legion,  a  military 
force  2,000  strong,  chartered  by  the  State 
and  furnished  with  State  arms,  yet  inde- 
pendent of  any  State  control,  except  by  the 
Governor.  Of  this  force  Joe  Smith  was 
commander-in-chief 

But  one  other  element  was  needed  to  fur- 
nish an  absolute  despotism,  with  everything 
necessary  to  make  a  system  of  terrorism 
perfect.  That  was  supplied  in  a  secret  or- 
ganization known  as  the  Danite  Band.  Of 
this  order  Ford  says,  "  It  was  asserted  that 
Joe  Smith  .  .  .  had  embodied  a  band  of  his 
followers,  called  '  Danites,'  who  were  sworn 
to  obey  him  as  God,  and  to  do  his  com- 
mands, murder  and  treason  not  excepted ; 
that  he  had  instituted  an  order  in  the  church, 
whereby  those  who  composed  it  were  pre- 
tended to  be  sealed  up  to  eternal  life  against 
all  crimes,  except  shedding  innocent  blood, 


64  A  History  of 

and  that  no  blood  was  innocent,  except  that 
of  the  members  of  the  church  ....  that  with 
this  power  in  the  hands  of  an  unscrupulous 
leader,  there  was  no  safety  for  the  lives  or 
property  of  any  one  who  should  oppose 
him." 

The  question  may  arise,  were  the  Mor- 
mons numerous  enough  to  embolden  them 
to  attempt  the  exercise  of  any  of  their  re- 
markable powers,  or  to  exert  a  terrorism  of 
any  consequence  upon  the  citizens  of  the 
county  generally.^  We  reply  that  the  entire 
Mormon  population  of  Hancock  county  — 
the  city  of  Nauvoo  inclusive  —  was  estima- 
ted, in  1842,  at  16,000,  and  of  the  city  of 
Nauvoo  alone,  which  fluctuated  greatly,  at 
12,000  to  15,000.  There  were  also  several 
thousands  of  them  in  the  adjoining  counties. 
More  than  half  the  population  of  Plymouth, 
at  one  time,  was  Mormons  —  probably  150 
or  more  in  number.  Among  them  were  two 
brothers  of  the  prophet,  William  and  Samuel 
Smith;  also  a  sister  of  the  Smiths,  Mrs. 
Saulsbury,  and  a  brother-in-law  of  William 
Smith,  G.  D.  Grant. 

William  Smith  succeeded  Tadlock  in  the 
ownership  of  the  hotel  property  —  the  prem- 
ises now  occupied  by  M.  D.  Gillis  —  which 
soon  became  known,  in  popular  parlance,  as 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         65 

the  "  Mormon  Hotel."  The  prophet  himself 
came  down  occasionally  and  stopped  with 
his  friends,  and  it  is  said  by  those  who  ought 
to  know,  that  he  sometimes  manifested  his 
love  of  worldly  enjoyments  by  spending  the 
night  participating  in  the  sports  of  a  merry 
dancing  party  at  the  hotel. 

A  considerable  number  of  the  Mormons 
who  lived  in  Plymouth,  had  the  reputation 
among  their  gentile  neighbors,  of  being 
honest,  respectable  people  ;  but  the  major- 
ity of  them  were  considered  a  "  hard  set." 
There  was  a  great  deal  of  thieving  done  in 
a  small  way  —  robbing  hen-roosts,  smoke- 
houses, etc. —  of  which  the  Mormons  got  the 
credit,  sometimes  unjustly,  no  doubt,  as  such 
things  have  happened  since  the  Mormons 
left.  No  extensive  depredations  were  com- 
mitted about  Plymouth  ;  it  was  a  little  too 
far  from  headquarters  for  convenience  in 
such  operations. 

The  number  of  Mormons  scattered  about 
in  various  parts  of  the  county  made  it  very 
convenient  for  them  to  make  the  necessary 
observations  upon  the  surrounding  "fullness 
of  the  earth  "  before  transferring  it  to  their 
own  private  larders,  or  to  their  city  market, 
if  near  enouo-h,  and  desirable  to  do  so.  In 
practice  they  seemed  generally  to  much  pre- 


66  A  History  of 

fer  claiminof  their  rig-ht  to  the  "  fulhiess  of 
the  earth  "  in  ways  so  secret  that  the  gen- 
tiles should  have  no  other  knowledge  of 
their  loss  than  the  barren  fact  that  the  prop- 
erty was  gone.  This  was  altogether  the 
most  convenient  way  of  carrying  out  their 
great  moral  (?)  principle.  The  gentiles  of 
Hancock  county,  in  Mormon  times,  like 
the  same  class  described  in  the  Sacred 
Book  of  the  Christian,  often  exhibited  great 
perversity  in  surrendering  their  claims  to 
the  Lord,  or  to  those  claiming  to  be  his 
agents.     To  illustrate  : 

HOW    HE    SAVED    HIS    BACON. 

A  very  good  man  of  the  gentile  persua- 
sion, still  living  (June,  1875)  within  the  cor- 
porate limits  of  Plymouth,  in  the  enjoyment 
of  a  good  old  age,  had  put  up  for  his  family 
use  a  good  suppl}^  of  meat,  which  he  vainly 
supposed  he  had  a  good  right  to  use  and 
enjoy.  We  read  that  "  The  expectation  of 
the  wicked  (gentiles)  shall  be  cut  off."  The 
meat  disappeared,  piece  by  piece,  a  great 
deal  faster  than  could  be  accounted  for  by 
the  wants  of  the  family.  The  old  gentle- 
man had  heard  of  Momnoji  theology  —  and 
by  the  way,  he  was  strong  on  theology,  him- 
self, in   his   peculiar  way,  —  in  fact,  he  was 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         67 

ready  to  meet  an  argument  in  almost  any 
way  it  might  be  presented,  by  gentile  or 
Mormon.  This  Mormon  theolo^v  on  the 
rights  of  property  was  a  particular  aversion 
of  his  ;  it  illustrated  human  depravity  too 
well,  and  at  the  same  time  its  present  appli- 
cation bore  too  heavily  on  his  larder.  He 
watched  for  the  intruder,  nights,  with  a  view 
to  making  things  lively  if  he  should  catch 
him.  But  his  vi^rilance  failed,  and  he  wea- 
ried  of  watchfulness  ;  but  when  off  guard, 
again  the  meat  would  disappear.  He  final- 
ly devised  an  argument,  both  forcible  and 
effective,  that  was  too  much  for  the  perse- 
verance of  even  a  Mormon  saint ;  to  use  a 
classic  expression,  "  it  saved  his  bacon." 
The  thing  was  so  simple  that  we  give  its 
prominent  feature  for  the  benefit  of  others 
who  may  be  troubled  with  Mormon  theol- 
ogy, or  other  loose  notions  about  the  rights 
of  property,  recommending  its  application, 
however,  only  in  extreme  cases.  Our  gen- 
tile friend  fixed  his  rifle  in  the  smoke-house 
in  such  a  way  as  to  rake  the  passage  just 
inside  the  door.  He  then  attached  a  string 
to  the  trigger,  ran  it  across  the  passage  in 
line  with  the  range  of  the  gun,  and  fastened 
the  other  end  to  a  plow  in  the  opposite  cor- 
ner of  the  smoke-house.     Any  one  going  in 


68  A  History  of 

and  running  against  the  string,  would  neces- 
sarily draw  the  fire  of  the  masked  battery. 
Next  morning  the  trap  was  found  sprung, 
and  a  prominent  Mormon  hobbled  about 
town  for  some  time  after  that,  ostensibly 
from  the  effect  of  a  considerable  cut  in  the 
calf  of  his  leg,  received,  as  he  said,  in  hew- 
ing a  stick  of  timber.  It  leaked  out  after- 
wards, however,  that  the  masked  battery  in 
our  friend's  smoke-house  was  responsible 
for  the  damage. 

A    RECKLESS    ATTEMPT    TO    SHOOT. 

This  same  gentile  friend  was  roused,  one 
very  dark  night,  by  the  barking  of  his  dogs, 
indicating  that  something  was  going  wrong 
outside.  Takings  his  ofun,  he  hastened  out 
to  make  such  observations  as  he  could. 
Getting  over  a  fence  on  his  way  towards  the 
corn-crib,  where  the  dogs  were  engaged,  he 
startled  a  flock  of  sheep  that  had  been  lying 
there  quietly.  As  they  ran,  the  dogs  went 
after  them.  Calling  the  dogs  off  from  the 
sheep,  revealed  his  presence  to  a  man  at  the 
corn-crib,  not  more  than  ten  feet  away,  who 
beat  a  hasty  retreat.  Hearing  the  footfalls 
plainly  receding  in  the  distance,  our  friend 
drew  up  his  gun  to  fire  in  the  direction  of 
the  sounds,  but  it  failed  to  go  off.     Having 


Round  P7'airie  and  Plymozith.         69 

been  annoyed  so  much  in  the  past,  it  was 
his  design  to  keep  his  gun  constantly  loaded 
and  ready  for  use,  and  to  use  it  to  purpose 
if  such  occasion  as  the  present  offered.  He 
learned  that  its  failure  now  to  serve  him 
arose  from  its  having  been  loaned  to  a 
neighbor,  without  his  knowledge,  used,  and 
returned  empty. 

The  next  day,  or  soon  after,  while  our 
friend  was  making  a  call  in  town,  the  Mor- 
mon came  in,  whom  he  suspected  of  having 
been  at  his  corn-crib.  The  Mormon  said 
he  was  about  going  out  to  his  house  to  see 
if  he  could  buy  some  bacon.  The  reply  was 
that  he  had  none  to  sell,  as  it  had  nearly  all 
been  stolen  ;  but,  said  he,  if  you  have  any 
business  at  my  house,  and  will  come  in  day- 
light, you  shall  be  respectfully  treated  ;  and 
if  I  find  you,  or  any  other  Mormon,  on  my 
premises  after  night,  I  want  it  distinctly  un- 
derstood that  the  first  warning  you  will  get, 
will  be  the  flash  of  my  gun.  This  Mormon 
was  at  this  time  under  commission  from  Joe 
Smith  as  a  missionary  to  the  gentiles, — 
went  to  St.  Louis  soon  after,  where  he  was 
arrested  as  a  counterfeiter,  and  several  dies 
and  a  quantity  of  bogus  silver  halves  and 
quarters  found  upon  his  person.  His  mis- 
sion at  that  time  ended  in  the  Missouri  State 


/O  A  History  of 

prison.  On  learning  of  his  arrest  in  St. 
Louis,  the  Mormon's  premises  in  Plymouth 
were  searched,  and  a  stocking  full  of  bogus 
coins  found,  in  various  stages  of  completion. 

A    MIXED    ORDINATION. 

"  You  knew,  perhaps,  that  I  was  once  or- 
dained as  a  regular  Mormon  elder,"  said  the 
gentile  who  is  responsible  for  the  incidents 
just  given.  No!  we  had  never  heard  it. 
*'  Well,  it  was  done  bv  the  lavine  on  of 
hands  by  a  brother  of  the  prophet,  William 
Smith,  proprietor  of  the  Mormon  hotel  in 
Plymouth." 

This   ceremony   being    peculiar,   we   give 
the  facts  briefly,  as  related  by  the  candidate 
for  eldership,  and  as   illustrating  the   social 
and  moral  status  of  a  prominent  Mormon. 
The  gentile    being   somewhat    unvvell,   had 
gone  to  town  and  stepped  into  the  shop  of 
a  friend  to   spend  a  little  time.     Inquiring 
the   news,  William   Smith,  who  was   sittino- 
on  the  counter.  knowiuQf  the  orentile's  aver- 
sion  to  the  Mormons,  replied,  in  a  taunting 
way,  that  the  news  was  "  that  the  prophet, 
Joseph  Smith  was  not  arrested  yet."  "  Well," 
said  the  gentile,  "  I  am  sorry  for  it."    At  this, 
Smith  got  angry,  and  said  he  could  whip  him, 
anyhow,  and  if  he  would  lay  his  hand  upon 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply7itoitth.         7 1 

him  he  would  do  it.  The  reply  was,  that  per- 
haps he  could  do  it,  but  whatever  he  might 
be  able  to  do,  "there  is  one  thing  you  cannot 
do  —  you  cannot  bully  me."  And  stepping 
up  to  Smith,  he  laid  his  hand  upon  his  shoul- 
der ;  upon  which  Smith  gave  him  a  stinging 
blow  that  nearly  upset  him.  Springing 
from  the  counter,  Smith  followed  up  his 
movement,  and  in  the  scuffle  that  ensued, 
got  his  head  under  the  gentile's  arm,  which 
closed  down  upon  his  neck  like  a  vise.  His 
thumb  accidentally  got  into  the  gentile's 
mouth,  and  that  was  promptly  clamped. 
With  a  tremendous  effort,  Smith  jerked 
aw^ay  with  a  thumb  badly  skinned,  and 
sprang  out  of  the  door,  where  he  promised 
to  finish  the  gentile  if  he  would  come  out. 
A  neighbor  passing  at  the  time,  stepped 
between  the  parties  and  closed  this  novel 
"  ordination  "  scene. 

The  gentile  says  the  sequel  to  this  thing 
was,  that  being  an  elder  in  a  geritile  church, 
his  brethren  made  him  apologize  to  them 
for  mixing  his  ceremonies  in  such  a  promis- 
cuous way. 

MORMON  vs.    MORMON.   HOGS  IN  MARKET. 

The  theory  generally  prevailed  among 
the  Mormons,  that  they  respected  each  oth- 


72  A  History  of 

er's  rights  of  property ;  that  if  a  Mormon 
lost  property  by  theft,  some  gentile  must 
be  guilty  of  the  act.  The  following  incident 
shows  that  the  theory  did  not  always  hold 
good. 

For  the  facts,  substantially  as  we  give 
them,  one  of  our  most  reliable  citizens  is 
responsible.  We  withhold  the  names  of  the 
parties.  An  honest  but  deluded  Mormon, 
from  Indiana,  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Bear  Creek.  He  attended  to  his  own 
business  faithfully,  and  made  an  honest  liv- 
ing by  it.  He  had  full  faith  in  the  Mormon 
religion,  came  to  Hancock  County  to  enjoy 
its  privileges,  and  hoped  in  due  time  to  reap 
its  promised  rewards.  He  had,  near  by,  a 
gentile  neighbor  that  he  respected  highly, 
whose  company  he  enjoyed,  and  with  whom 
he  frequently  discussed  the  various  features 
of  Mormonism.  As  thefts  were  common  in 
the  neighborhood,  the  theory  alluded  to 
often  camie  up  for  discussion,  the  Mormon 
insisting  that  if  any  of  his  brethren  in  the 
faith  lost  anything  in  this  way,  some  gentile 
was  at  the  bottom  of  it ;  but  the  gentile 
neighbor  was  unconvinced  and  incredulous. 
Time  passed  on.  One  morning  the  Mor- 
mon got  up  to  find  that  fourteen  good  fat 
hogs  had  disappeared  from  his  pen  during 


Roitiid  Prairie  and  PlymoiUh.  jt, 

the  ni^ht.  He  at  once  went  over  to  his 
gentile  neighbor,  reported  his  loss,  and  re- 
asserted his  theory.  A  light  snow  had  fallen 
throucrh  the  nig-ht.  The  ofentile  remarked 
that  it  was  a  good  time  to  test  the  theory, 
as  the  hogs  could  readily  be  tracked  through 
the  snow.  The  Mormon  hadn't  thoueht  of 
that  idea,  but  accepted  the  suggestion  at 
once,  and  the  two  neio^hbors  started  together 
to  follow  the  trail  of  the  stolen  property. 
They  found  the  hogs  had  been  driven  up  to 
some  place  near  the  farm  since  owned  by 
Dr.  H.  P.  Griswold,  in  Wythe  township. 
There  they  had  been  killed  and  loaded  into 
wagons  ;  and  as  the  wagons  could  be  quite 
as  readily  tracked  through  the  snow,  they 
followed  on  until  the  trail  led  them  fairly 
into  the  streets  of  the  city  of  Nauvoo. 
Here  the  Mormon  became  disgusted,  re- 
fused to  make  further  search,  remarked  to 
his  neighbor  that  no  gentile  would  take 
undressed  dead  hogs  into  Nauvoo  to  sell, 
returned  home,  renounced  Mormonism,  sold 
out  his  property,  and  went  back  to  Indiana, 
a  sadder,  but  a  wiser  man. 

TRICKS    OF    THE    (mORMON)  TRADE. 

Following  stolen   property  into   Nauvoo 
with  a  hope  of  its  recovery,  generally  proved 
6 


74  A  History  of 

an  unsuccessful  sort  of  business.  There 
were  various  devices  resorted  to  by  the 
Mormons  for  making  such  visits  by  gentile 
claimants  both  unpleasant  and  unprofit- 
able. One  device  was  that  of  colorinof 
stock :  for  instance,  a  man  might  trace  a 
stolen  horse  into  Nauvoo,  and  find  one 
there  that  answered  the  description  of  his 
own  in  every  particular,  except  that  it  was  a 
horse  of  another  color  ;  a  partial  or  total 
application  of  dyestuff  had  changed  its  iden- 
tity, so  that  no  legal  claim  he  would  dare  to 
make  would  be  of  any  avail. 

Another  device  was  the  whittlinor  dodee. 
A  little  band  of  stalwart  Mormons  would 
confront  the  unwelcome  visitor  and  engage 
him  in  conversation,  at  the  same  time  pro- 
ducing a  huge  jack-knife  and  a  stick,  com- 
mence a  process  of  whittling,  cutting  towards 
the  visitor  so  recklessly  and  so  closely  that 
a  retrograde  movement  on  his  part  would 
seem  eminently  desirable  if  he  valued  his 
personal  safety.  It  was  but  a  short  job  to 
whittle  a  man  out  of  town  by  following 
up  the  vigorous  application  of  this  simple 
device. 

Again,  their  city  ordinances  were  brought 
to  bear,  and  claimants  of  stolen  property 
were  fined  by  Mormon  courts  for  daring  to 


Round  Prairie  and  Plyinonth.  75 

POLITICS    AND    RELIGION. 

seek  their  own   in  that   terrestrial   paradise 
called  Nauvoo. 

Such  a  condition  of  thinofs  as  we  have 
explained  and  illustrated,  created  great  an- 
tagonism between  the  gentile  citizens  and 
the  Mormons.  This  condition  of  hostility 
was  greatly  aggravated  by  political  consid- 
erations. The  Mormons  voted  as  a  unit, 
and  for  whichever  partv  this  vote  mieht  be 
cast,  it  secured  to  them  the  enmity  of  the 
other  party.  The  principle  on  which  Mor- 
mon politics  seemed  to  hinge,  was  that  of 
voting  for  the  party  which  promised  them 
the  most  favors  in  return.  The  result  of 
this  triangular  political  courtship  was  a  gen- 
eral fallincr  out  with  each  other. 

In  the  spring  of  1844,  ^  ^^w  seceding 
Mormons  determined  to  establish  a  news- 
paper in  Nauvoo,  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
the  public  some  light  upon  features  of  Mor- 
monism  not  generally  known,  except  to 
those  who  had  been  initiated.  One  number 
was  issued,  but  before  another  was  ready  for 
issue,  the  enterprise  was  declared  a  nuisance 
by  the  city  council,  and  summarily  abated 
by  the  city  authorities,  by  the  destruction 
of  the  press.  This  act  of  Mormon  tyranny 
brouorht  on  the  culmination  of  affairs.     Pro- 


76  A  History  of 

cess   was   commenced   at  Carthage   against 
the  Mormon  leaders,  and  a  call  made  upon 
the   citizens   of  Hancock,  and  the   military 
forces  of  surrounding  counties,  to  aid  in  its 
execution.       Several    hundred    turned    out. 
A  requisition  upon  the  Governor  had  been 
made  for  State  forces,  but  not  responded  to, 
the  Governor  thinking  it   unnecessary;  but 
Governor  Ford  himself  came  over  and  took 
command  of  the  volunteer  forces  assembled 
at  Carthage.     He  made  a  demand  upon  the 
Mormons   for  the  surrender  of  the   parties 
charged  with  the  destruction  of  the  press, 
promising    them    protection    if    they   gave 
themselves  up,  with  the  alternative,  if  they 
did  not,  of  having  the  whole  military  power 
of  the  State  brought  to  bear  upon  them,  if 
necessary.     Such   persuasive  eloquence  was 
irresistible.      The  principal   Mormon  digni- 
taries came  over  to  Carthage   and   surren- 
dered  themselves   to  the  legal    authorities, 
and  were  released  on  bail,  to  appear  for  trial 
when    wanted,   except    Joseph    and    Hiram 
Smith  ;    these  were  re-arrested  on  charge  of 
treason,  and  confined  m  the  jail  at  Carthage, 
where  they  were   shortly  after  assassinated 
by  a  band  of  citizens  in  disguise. 

We  pass  the  immediate  effect  of  this  act, 
for  the  present,  to  say  that  the  trial  of  those 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply moiitlL  77 

who  destroyed  the  press  came  off  the  next 
year,  and  then  proved  a  farce,  the  court  be- 
ing overawed  by  a  Mormon  rabble,  and  its 
verdict  of  acquittal  rendered  by  a  Mormon 
jury.  The  result  was  not  soothing  in  its 
effect  upon  gentile  citizens.  A  war  of  exter- 
mination seemed  determined  upon,  and  ac- 
tual hostilities  were  only  partially  prevented 
by  an  agreement  of  the  Mormons  to  leave 
the  country  en  masse  the  next  spring.  War- 
like demonstrations  were  made  to  hurry 
them  off;  a  military  force  approached  the 
suburbs  of  Nauvoo,  where  they  were  con- 
fronted by  a  similar  Mormon  force.  They 
were  careful  to  keep  a  respectful  distance 
from  each  other,  exchanging  occasional 
lively  compliments  in  the  way  of  a  harmless 
cannonade. 

The  difficulties  were  practically  ended  in 
the  spring  of  1846,  by  the  emigration  of  the 
great  body  of  the  Mormon  population. 

A    SERIO-COMIC    PANIC. 

We  return  now  to  notice  the  effect  of  the 
killing  of  the  Smiths,  in  1844,  upon  the  peo- 
ple more  or  less  directly  brought  under  the 
influence  of  the  act.  At  the  interval  of  thirty 
years  from  the  scenes,  they  seem  to  bear  an 
impress  of  a  decidedly  serio-comic  character. 


78  A  History  of 

Ford  says  that  the  intelligence  of  the 
death  of  the  Smiths  "seemed  to  strike 
everyone  with  a  sort  of  dumbness."  The 
diinibjiess,  however,  must  have  been  of  short 
duration,  and  was  followed  immediately  by 
a  general  panic  and  fright,  for  which,  per- 
haps, it  would  be  hard  to  find  a  parallel. 
The  Mormons,  undoubtedly,  were  panic- 
stricken,  expecting  the  murder  of  their 
prophet,  and  his  brother  Hiram  —  a  promi- 
nent leader  among  them  —  to  be  followed 
up  by  a  general  attempt  to  exterminate  the 
whole  body.  Governor  Ford  confesses  that 
he  hurried  off  to  Quincy  for  his  personal 
safety,  and  that  he  feared  assassination  from 
both  parties.  Carthage  was  in  a  fever  of 
excitement,  expecting  the  Mormons  to 
wreak  their  vengeance  upon  them  for  the 
murder  of  their  leaders,  many  of  the  citizens 
fleeing  for  refuge  to  more  distant  points  for 
safety.  Many  ludicrous  scenes  occurred. 
Jeff.  Davis  may  possibly  be  indebted  to 
Carthage  for  his  idea  of  attempting  to  es- 
cape arrest  in  petticoats.  Two  persons  are 
said  to  have  been  seen  hurrying  out  of  town 
dressed  in  female  attire,  carrying  between 
them  a  trunk  containing  their  most  portable 
valuables.  The  parties  proved  to  be  a  man 
and  his  wife,  escapino;  thus  for  their  lives. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         79 

The  frightened  Carthagenians  spread  the 
panic,  as  they  fled,  to  the  most  distant  parts 
of  the  county.  Terrible  rumors  were  circu- 
lated, that  Mormon  vengeance,  like  a  prairie 
fire,  would  sweep  speedily  over  the  whole 
county  with  fire  and  sword,  carrying  de- 
vastation, ruin  and  death  to  the  gentile 
inhabitants. 

The  effect,  very  naturally,  was  various: 
some  took  the  panic  readily,  and  fled  for 
safety ;  others,  thinking  there  might  be 
real  danger,  made  such  provision  as  they 
could  to  meet  it  bravely  by  organizing  such 
forces  as  they  might  for  home  defense; 
others,  still,  took  the  correct  view  of  the 
situation  —  that,  of  the  two  parties,  the  Mor- 
mons had  the  greatest  cause  for  a  panic,  and 
that  there  was  no  real  danger. 

jim's  story,     three  horsemen  take  a 

TOWN. 

A  friend  of  ours,  whose  veracity  is  beyond 
question,  for  years  a  resident  of  Plymouth, 
then  living  nearer  one  of  the  most  remote 
towns  in  the  county,  but  not  a  thousand 
miles  from  Plymouth,  whose  name  we  with- 
hold, but  for  convenience  and  brevity  we 
shall  call  "Jim,"  tells  us  the  following  bit  of  his 
personal  experience  in  those  times  that  tried 


8o  A  History  of 

men's  "  pluck."  A  prominent  citizen  of  the 
town  came  out  to  get  Jim  and  some  of  his 
neighbors  to  come  in  and  help  guard  the 
town  that  night,  as  word  had  been  received 
that  the  Mormons  were  coming.  Jim  tried 
to  allay  his  fears,  arguing  that  there  was  no 
danorer  of  an  invasion  ;  and  as  he  had  been 
hard  at  work  all  day,  protested  against 
losing  his  rest  that  night,  on  what  seemed 
to  him  a  needless  mission.  But  no  excuses 
or  arguments  availed ;  nothing  would  do 
short  of  Jim's  promise  to  come,  which  finally 
was  given.  Towards  night,  Jim  and  two  of 
his  neiofhbors  saddled  their  horses  and  rode 
leisurely  towards  town,  to  fulfill  their  prom- 
ise of  standing  guard.  When  within  perhaps 
half  a  mile  of  town,  they  stopped  to  talk  with 
a  couple  of  men  they  met  in  the  road  ;  and 
while  sitting  on  their  horses  there,  they  no- 
ticed two  men  riding  slowly  towards  them 
from  town.  As  it  was  getting  dark,  they  did 
not  come  near  enough  for  recognition,  when 
they  turned  their  course  and  rode  rapidly 
back  towards  town.  They  proved  to  be 
scouts  thac  had  been  sent  out  to  reconnoi- 
tre, and  mistaking  the  identity  of  Jim  and 
his  companions,  and  greatly  magnifying  their 
numbers,  rode  through  town  at  full  speed, 
giving  the  alarm  that  the  "  Mormons  were 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         8 1 

coming"  —  "the  road  was  full  of  them,"  and 
advising  the  people  to  "  flee  for  life."  The 
scouts  set  the  example  for  a  hasty  flight,  as 
they  did  not  stop  in  theirs,  until  they  reached 
some  point  of  safety  in  the  distance.  Their 
haste  was  too  great  even  to  recover  a  hat 
that  one  of  them  lost  in  his  fliorht  throuo^h 
town.  After  finishing  their  conversation, 
Jim  and  his  companions  rode  leisurely  into 
town,  all  unconscious  of  the  panic  their  mis- 
taken identity  and  magnified  numbers  had 
created.  They  were  surprised  to  see  or  hear 
no  signs  of  human  life  about  the  streets ; 
they  rode  on,  seeking  some  one  to  direct 
them  to  the  proper  rendezvous  at  which  to 
report  for  guard  duty.  Finally  they  discov- 
ered a  head  peeping  cautiously  out  from  the 
cover  of  a  wagon  down  in  a  ravine  ;  they 
went  for  it,  and  found  it  belonged  to  a  o^ood 
citizen,  who  wears  it  yet,  with  credit  to  him- 
self and  his  townsmen.  The  news  soon  got 
about,  that  the  bloodthirsty  Mormons  were 
friends  instead  of  foes;  and  then  the  citizens 
began  to  put  in  their  appearance,  coming  out 
from  the  cover  of  all  sorts  of  hiding  places. 
Jim  says  he  and  his  companions  were  dis- 
gusted at  such  an  exhibition  of  pluck  on  the 
part  of  those  they  had  come  to  assist,  and 
went  home,  somewhat  out  of  humor,  deter- 


82  A  History  of 

mined  to  leave  the  town  to  Its  fate  —  and  its 
fate  has  been  life,  peace  and  prosperity ,  not- 
withstanding the  rude  alarms  of  invasion, 
wars  and  rumors  of  war. 

MARTIAL    MUSIC    IN    A    MILK    PAIL. 

The  following  amusing  little  incident  be- 
longs at  the  same  place  and  near  the  same 
time  as  the  story  just  preceding. 

We  were  inclined  at  first  to  treat  the  inci- 
dent as  made  up  by  some  one  with  a  too 
lively  imagination  ;  but  find,  on  investiga- 
tion, that  it  is  well  authenticated  as  veritable 
history. 

A  little  company  of  panic-stricken  Car- 
thagenians  had  fied  to  this  distant  point,  and 
taken  refuge  in  the  house  of  a  friend,  hoping 
to  enjoy  at  least  one  night  of  quiet  rest  and 
immunity  from  danger  before  the  cominof 
storm  of  Mormon  wrath  should  break  upon 
their  devoted  heads.  The  curtains  of  night 
began  to  fall  upon  the  scene,  shutting  out 
from  view  any  visible  signs  of  approaching 
danger.  Suddenly  the  sound  of  distant 
music  seemed  to  float  upon  the  still  evening 
air.  What  could  it  mean }  All  ears  were 
attent.  Again  the  shrill  tones  came  ringing 
nearer,  clearer  than  before.  There  could  be 
no  mistake  now  —  the  Mormon  hordes  were 


Round  Prairie  and  PlymoiUh.         83 

surely  at  hand,  marching,  a  triumphant  host, 
with  martial  music  at  their  head. 

The  only  hope  of  our  startled  company 
lay  in  instant  flight.  They  fled  inconti- 
nently, nor  stopped  in  their  wild  chase  for 
safety  until  they  reached  a  neglected  lot  on 
which  orew  a  mass  of  hiijh  weeds  so  dense 
as  to  compare  well  with  an  Indian  jungle  or 
southern  cane-break.  They  managed  to 
crawl  into  the  tangled  depths  of  this  jungle, 
and  find  safety  until  the  morning  light  dis- 
pelled both  the  darkness  and  the  danger. 

A  moment's  investigation,  preceding  their 
flight,  would  have  revealed  a  neighbor,  all 
innocent  of  any  design  of  harm,  in  an  ad- 
joining lot,  quietly  milking  his  cow;  and 
that  the  first  dashinof  streams  of  milk  into 
the  resonant  tin  pail  produced  the  sounds 
their  excited  imaginations  had  interpreted 
as  martial  music,  and  caused  all  the  fright 
and  discomfort  they  had  experienced. 

THE    BLUE-STOCKING    WAR. 

Plymouth,  with  its  preponderating  Mor- 
mon population,  was  in  a  remarkably  good 
condition  to  be  panic  stricken,  if  an  exciting 
cause  had  occurred  at  the  proper  time  to 
produce  the  greatest  effect.  Fortunately,  it 
appeared,  at   an   early  stage  of  the  excite- 


84  A   History  of 

merit,  that  the  Mormons  were  more  fright- 
ened than  the  citizens. 

We  pass,  for  the  present,  the  effects  of 
the  panic  upon  the  Mormons,  to  notice  a 
first-class  sensation  that  occurred  a  h'ttle  out 
of  town,  among  several  families  of  citizens. 
These  families  were  personal  relatives ; 
some  of  them  were  alarmed  at  the  supposed 
danger  from  a  storm  of  wrath  from  the  Mor- 
mons,  and  urged  the  others  to  meet  with 
them  at  night  for  mutual  protection  and 
safety.  They  did  so.  As  the  families  were 
quite  large,  the  number  thus  gathered, 
counting  men,  women  and  children,  pre- 
sented quite  a  formidable  array  of  forces. 
The  place  chosen  for  rendezvous- -the 
house  of  one  of  their  number  —  was  well 
chosen  in  one  respect  in  a  military  point  of 
view  :  the  facilities  for  a  retreat  were  good, 
should  such  a  movement  become  necessary, 
it  being  down  hill  in  nearly  every  direction 
from  the  house,  and  there  was  a  friendly* 
shelter  of  timber  near  at  hand. 

It  was  the  second  night  after  the  Smiths 
were  killed  ;  the  news  had  been  spread  far 
and  wide  ;  the  excitement  was  at  its  height. 
Our  company  was  assembled,  and  arrange- 
ments duly  made  for  the  night'.i  campaign  : 
one  of  the  number  was  to  stand  guard  and 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         85 

give  timely  warning  of  any  approaching 
danger;  the  others  to  get  such  sleep  as 
they  could  in  their  crowded  condition 
within  doors.  The  hours  sped  on  ;  those 
within  were  wrapped  in  slumber  —  with 
some  a  fitful  sleep,  disturbed  with  fearful 
dreams  of  impending  danger.  The  guard 
got  tired  of  his  lonely  vigils,  and  felt  that 
the  only  necessity  for  his  weary  duty  was 
to  allay  the  fears  of  some  timid  ones  within, 
and  they  were  now  asleep.  He  set  his  gun 
against  the  side  of  the  house,  slipped  in 
quietly,  and  was  soon  among  the  soundest 
sleepers.  Presently  another  awoke  and 
stepped  outside  to  see  if  all  was  well  — 
found  the  guard  gone,  and  the  gun  left 
recklessly  exposed  to  the  enemy  ;  but  see- 
ing no  signs  of  danger,  carried  the  gun  in- 
side, for  safety,  and  again  retired.  For  a 
time  all  was  quiet.  The  door  had  been  but 
carelessly  closed  ;  soon  a  light  gust  of  wind 
blew  it  open  ;  a  dreaming  sleeper,  aroused 
by  the  noise,  shouted,  "  The  Mormons  are 
here!"  No  second  alarm  was  needed  to 
bring  the  sleepers  to  their  feet.  One  of  the 
tallest  and  largest  men  of  the  company 
sprang  from  his  bed  with  a  bound  that 
brought  his  head,  but  slightly  covered  with 
hair,  in  violent  collision  with  the  ceiling;  as 


86  A  History  of 

he  came  down,  his  shins  struck  with  force 
against  the  edge  of  a  trundle  bed  filled  with 
children,  in  the  middle  of  the  floor.  \\Mth 
pain  from  his  double  collision,  and  fright, 
he  roared  lustily.  The  guard  sprang  out 
for  his  gun,  only  to  find  it  gone.  Its  ab- 
sence was  an  alarmino-  fact.  In  the  dark- 
ness  the  coolest  heads  could  not  readily 
take  in  the  situation.  The  women  scream- 
ed, children  cried,  the  men  shouted  ;  for  a 
time  the  direst  confusion  reigned  supreme. 
Then  it  began  to  dawn  upon  their  minds 
that  there  was  no  enemy  to  meet ;  nobody 
seriously  hurt,  nobody  to  blame  ;  but  that 
everybody  had  been  very  thoroughly  fright- 
ened, was  unquestionable.  As  the  general 
ridiculousness  of  the  situation  became  appa- 
rent, fright  changed  to  mirth ;  and  from 
that  day  to  this,  the  scenes  of  that  eventful 
niorht  have  been  a  fruitful  source  of  amuse- 
ment,  not  only  to  the  circle  participating  in 
it,  but  to  a  much  wider  circle  that  were  soon 
made  acquainted  with  the  facts. 

The  writer  first  heard  this  story  about 
twenty-five  years  ago,  from  the  lips  of  one 
of  the  ladies  concerned  in  it.  The  gusto 
with  which  she  entered  into  its  recital,  and 
her  graphic  description  of  its  incidents,  we 
fail  to  reproduce ;  but  the  essential  facts  are 


Rotind  Prah^ie  and  Plymoitih.         87 

given  as  related  by  her,  and  others  since. 
With  this  we  must  be  content  to  let  what 
our  lady  informant  designated  as  the  "  Blue- 
Stocking  War,"  pass  into  history. 

THE    MORMON    PANIC. 

The  real  fright  and  fear  endured  by  the 
Mormons  in  and  about  Plymouth,  as  a  result 
of  the  murder  of  their  leaders,  is  shown  by 
the  following  facts  :  The  day  after  the  mur- 
der, a  few  prominent  Mormons  went  to  the 
house  of  a  citizen  in  the  country,  asking  his 
personal  protection,  for  the  time  being,  and 
his  intercession  in  their  behalf,  that  their 
lives  might  be  spared,  and  a  little  time  given 
them  in  which  to  escape  to  some  place  of 
safety,  promising  to  leave  the  place  as  soon 
as  they  could  get  away.  The  result  was, 
that  in  a  few  days  the  Mormons  were  about 
all  gone  from  Plymouth  and  vicinity.  They 
disappeared  quietly  and  almost  without  ob- 
servation ;  a  few,  occupying  farms  near  by, 
abandoned  their  crops,  taking  with  them 
only  a  few  of  their  most  portable  goods. 
Among  these  was  Samuel  Smith,  a  brother 
of  the  murdered  prophet,  then  on  a  farm  in 
the  extreme  north  part  of  the  prairie,  near 
Crooked  Creek.  He  bore  the  reputation 
of  being  a  good,  respectable  citizen.     An- 


88  A   History  of 

other  Mormon,  by  the  name  of  Kelley,  who 
had  been  driven  out  of  Missouri  when  the 
Mormons  were  expelled  from  that  State, 
had  abandoned  his  crops  and  most  of  his 
property  there,  and  when  he  settled  down 
to  farming  here,  had  expressed  his  determi- 
nation never  to  leave  his  property  again, 
under  any  circumstances,  as  he  had  done  in 
Missouri,  but  rather  to  stay  with  it,  and  die 
by  it,  if  necessary  ;  but  Kelley  was  among 
the  first  that  disappeared. 

Plymouth  was  thus  relieved  of  its  Mor- 
mon population  in  1844;  but  as  we  have 
previously  stated,  the  county  bore  the  inflic- 
tion nearly  two  years  longer.  A  number  of 
the  citizens  of  Plymouth  participated  in  the 
closing  scenes  of  the  so-called  Mormon  war, 
which  resulted  in  the  expulsion  of  the  Mor- 
mons from  the  State. 

NAUVOO THE    PROPHEt's    WIDOW    AND    SON. 

The  writer  first  saw  Nauvoo  in  the  spring 
of  1849  —  three  years  after  the  Mormons 
left.  The  walls  of  the  great  Mormon  Tem- 
ple were  then  standing,  all  the  combustible 
parts  of  the  building  having  previously  been 
destroyed  by  fire.  We  stopped  at  the  Nau- 
voo House  —  a  great  institution,  chartered 
by  the  State  of  Illinois,  at   the   same  time 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         89 

with  the  passage  of  the  other  famous  Nau- 
voo  charters.  In  this  hotel,  according  to  its 
charter,  "Joe  Smith  and  his  heirs  were  to 
have  a  suite  of  rooms  forever."  Joe's  wife 
is  said  never  to  have  taken  stock  in  Mor- 
monism.  Not  long  after  his  death,  she  mar- 
ried Major  Louis  C.  Bidamon.  They  did 
not  join  in  the  Mormon  exodus,  but  re- 
mained, and  are  now  in  charge  of  the  hotel, 
now  known  as  the  Riverside  Mansion.  At 
the  time  of  our  visit,  Joseph  Smith,  jr.,  then 
a  young  man,  was  still  at  home  with  his 
mother.  He  is  now,  and  for  some  years 
has  been,  a  resident  of  Piano,  111.,  fifty-three 
miles  west  of  Chicago,  on  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  R. 
R.  He  has  quite  a  Mormon  community 
about  him,  but  not  of  the  polygamous.  Salt 
Lake  stripe.  "Young  Joe"  (now  advancing 
in  years)  is  a  preacher,  and  editor  of  a  Mor- 
mon newspaper. 


CHAPTER    X 


We  have  explained  the  causes,  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapter,  that  resulted  in  a  general 
depression  of  business  throughout  the  whole 
country,  as  well    as    here,  and   the   special 


90  A  History  of 

blip^hting  influence,  following  closely  in  the 
wake  of  the  financial  crisis,  that  bore  with 
such  crushing  weight  upon  Hancock  Coun- 
ty, and  with  it,  upon  the  town  of  Plymouth. 

After  such  explanation,  it  will  not  be 
thought  strange,  that  our  record  of  improve- 
ment, business  enterprises,  etc.,  for  the  few 
years  next  succeeding,  should  be  exceed- 
ingly brief. 

It  will  be  remembered,  that  in  our  record 
for  1837,  we  noted  the  fact  that  Benjamin 
Whittaker  was  in  business  on  the  west  side 
of  the  square,  where  Bybee  &  Terry  now 
are.  Here  he  was  succeeded  by  George 
Baxter  in  1839.  Possibly  the  two  were  in 
partnership  for  a  short  time  preceding  this. 
In  1840,  Baxter  sold  his  stock  of  goods  to 
William  M.  King,  who  moved  them  to  his 
harness  shop  on  the  south  side  of  the  square, 
where  he  closed  them  out,  without  adding 
materially,  if  any,  to  the  stock,  as  he  did  not 
care,  at  that  time,  to  continue  that  line  of 
business. 

The  only  business  enterprises  inaugurated 
by  Mormons,  not  already  noticed,  consisted 
of  a  couple  of  blacksmith's  shops,  that,  like 
many  other  Plymouth  enterprises,  were 
short-lived. 

We  might   add   somewhat  to  the  record 


Roiuid  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         9 1 

for  the  period  of  Mormon  occupation  and 
influence  by  noting  the  building  of  a  few- 
residences;  but  it  is  not  our  purpose  to 
trace  the  history  of  that  line  of  improve- 
ments, except  as  it  may  come  in  the  way  of 
our  business  record. 

Other  religious  influences  declined  as 
Mormonism  advanced.  Rev.  William  King 
left  in  1843.  From  this  time  the  Presbyter- 
ian Church  lost  most  of  its  practical  influ- 
ence upon  the  town  by  its  union  with  the 
Conp-reo^ational  Church  of  Round  Prairie. 
Occasional  meetings  were  held  in  the  school 
house,  by  different  denominations,  from  time 
to  time. 

The  establishment  of  regular  services  in 
Plymouth  will  be  noticed  in  the  history  of 
the  various  churches  of  the  town,  in  their 
order.  We  can  only  note  for  this  period  in 
the  history  of  Plymouth,  a  general  stagna- 
tion and  retrogression  in  everything  per- 
taining to  the  welfare  of  the  town.  The 
Mormon  hotel  kept  open  doors  for  way- 
farers, under  various  proprietors  —  Mormons 
and  "Jack"  Mormons,  until  the  property 
was  sold  to  David  Higby,  in  1847.  Among 
these  proprietors,  succeeding  William  Smith, 
were  Grant,  Smith's  brother-in-law.  Cole,  and 
Ewing.     Cole  was  a  precious  rascal ;  found 


92  A  History  of 

with  stolen  horses  in  his  stable  at  one  time. 

When  Capt.  M 's   company  were  ordered 

out  to  help  drive  off  the  Mormons,  Cole 
gave  out  notice  that  if  they  went,  he  would 
poison  their  wells  and  harrass  their  women 
and  children.  Hearing  this,  the  captain 
went  to  him  and  told  him  that  he  had  heard 
of  his  threat  —  that  he  and  his  company 
were  going,  in  obedience  to  the  call ;  but 
that  he  did  not  intend  to  leave  him  (Cole) 
behind,  alive,  to  execute  his  threat ;  upon 
which  Cole  found  it  expedient  to  make  a 
hasty  removal  to  Nauvoo.  During  Ewing's 
"  administration  "  of  the  hotel  business,  the 
old  Mormon  sign  post  on  the  premises,  be- 
came an  obnoxious  remembrancer  of  the 
past,  to  the  citizens,  and  a  "  vigilance  com- 
mittee went,  one  day,  and  cut  it  down,  not- 
withstanding the  protest  of  the  proprietor. 

In  1846,  Mr.  M.  C.  Johnson  commenced 
business  on  the  west  side  —  at  the  Bybee 
place  —  selling  merchandise  and  keeping 
hotel.  This  he  continued  until  1851,  and 
was  then  succeeded  by  Mr.  David  Palmer. 

In  1848,  Mi\  Philip  Metzgar  commenced 
his  business  career  in  Plymouth.  He  bought 
a  house  and  lot  where  his  residence  now  is, 
together  with  the  remaining  three  lots  east 
of  it  —  lots  4,  5,  6  and  7,  blocK   15  —  of  Mr. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         93 

Samuel  Haggard,  for  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  dollars.  (The  value  of  town  property, 
just  after  the  Mormon  times,  is  worthy  of 
note.)  Here  he  worked  at  his  trade,  tailor- 
ing, for  two  years ;  then  commenced  selling 
goods  in  a  small  way,  adding,  from  time  to 
time,  to  his  stock  and  to  his  facilities  for 
trade,  until  he  has  built  up  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  successful  business  enterprises  of 
the  town. 

*  The  character  of  'Squire  Kings  business 
changed  from  the  mechanical  to  the  mer- 
cantile,  about  1848.  Up  tc  this  time  he  had 
followed  his  trade — harness  making.  A  Mr. 
Percival,  doing  business  in  Clayton,  had 
brought  a  small  stock  of  goods  to  Plymouth, 
which  for  a  time  were  kept  in  the  Mormon 
Hotel  building.  Soon  after,  Percival  formed 
a  partnership  with  W.  M.  King,  and  the 
goods  were  moved  to  King's  shop  on  the 
south  side  of  the  square.  This  continued 
for  a  year  or  two,  when  King  bought  out  his 
partner,  and  continued  the  business  on  his 
own  account,  dropping  the  harness  making 
altogether. 

J.  W.  Bell  commenced  his  mercantile 
business  in  1847  —  it  would  seem  rather  by 
accident  than  design.  He  had  devoted  him- 
self to  farming  since  coming  to  Plymouth  in 


94  -^  History  of 

1836,  doing  no  public  business,  except  enter- 
taining travelers  occasionally  at  his  first 
place  of  residence,  on  Winter  street,  between 
Virginia  and  Union.  During  the  year 
named,  he  raised  a  large  crop  of  beans,  for 
which  he  failed  to  find  a  satisfactory  cash 
market,  but  could  trade  them  for  goods. 
This  he  did,  and  continued  to  keep  a  small 
stock  on  hand  while  he  remained  at  the  old 
place,  devoting  leisure  time  to  the  business, 
and  running  it  in  an  irregular  sort  of  way, 
as  incidental  to  the  farming  business.  Such 
was  the  beginning  of  an  enterprise  that  grew 
up  to  be  among  the  foremost  in  the  place. 

We  may  remark  here,  that  the  three  per- 
sons just  noticed  —  J.  W.  Bell,  who  came  to 
Plymouth  in  1836;  William  M.  King,  who 
came  in  1837;  and  Philip  Metzgar,  who  came 
in  1848  —  all  commenced  their  mercantile 
career  near  the  same  time,  and  are  the  only 
ones  who  have  done  a  successful  and  contin- 
uous business  for  so  long  a  period  —  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century  —  in  Plymouth.  The  two 
latter  are  continuinor  the  race  into  the  sec- 
ond  quarter,  while  the  first,  Mr.  Bell,  retired, 
through  age  and  infirmity,  in  1873.  ^^  i850> 
Dr.  H.  P.  Griswold  retired  from  practice  and 
went  to  his  farm  in  Wythe  township.  Mr 
Bell  bought  out  his  town  property,  includ- 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         95 

inof  the  residence  on  the  corner  of  East 
Main  street  and  the  public  square,  together 
with  all  the  lots  east  of  it  to  Union  street. 
Here  both  branches  of  his  business  took  on 
an  enlarged  and  more  prominent  form.  Mr. 
John  A.  Hamilton  entered  into  partnership 
with  Mr.  Bell,  in  the  mercantile  business,  in 
1854,  and  continued  with  him  until  the  fall 
of  1862,  when  he  changed  his  location  to 
Carthage. 

In  1855  ^'^^^  ^^  put  up  the  new  hotel 
and  store  buildinof  on  the  corner.  This  was 
sold  to  —  Wilson  in  1857.  Bell  and  Ham- 
ilton continued  to  occupy  the  store  until  the 
building  was  burned  in  the  spring  of  1858, 
involving,  as  is  generally  supposed,  the  death 
of  Wilson,  the  proprietor.  The  business  of 
Bell  &  Hamilton  was  then  transferred  to  the 
north  side  of  the  square,  in  the  Odell  build- 
ing; remaining  there  until  the  fall  of  the 
.same  year,  was  then  removed  to  a  building 
on  the  corner  of  East  Main  and  Virgfinia 
streets  —  east  end  of  the  Ralston  place. 
Here  they  remained  until  the  dissolution 
of  the  firm- in  1862. 

T.  P.  Montgomery,  M.  D.,  succeeded  Dr. 
Griswold  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Ply- 
mouth in  1850.  He  lived  for  a  time  in  Mr. 
Bell's  old  residence  on  Winter  street,  and  in 


g6  A  History  of 

1852  built  the  residence  on  East  Main  street. 
He  also  built  a  large  two-story  store  build- 
ing in  1856,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
square  —  lot  3,  block  9  —  and  carried  on 
business  there  until  1857,  when  he  sold  out 
to  Mr.  A.  S.  Newman.  His  residence  he 
sold  to  J.  W.  Bell  in  1858,  by  whom  it  is  still 
occupied.  Dr.  Montgomery  went  to  Mis- 
souri from  Plymouth,  and  was  succeeded  in 
practice  here  by  Drs.  M.  M.  Hooton  and  A. 
W.  King,  who  had  been  associated  with  him 
for  a  time,  the  former  having  commenced 
practice  in  1852,  and  retired  in  1862,  remov- 
ing to  Peoria.  The  latter  commenced  prac- 
tice in  1854,  and  retired  in  1866,  devoting 
himself  since  that  time  to  farming.  Mont- 
gomery returned  to  Plymouth  in  1861,  and 
remained  for  three  years,  and  then  made  his 
final  removal. 

T.  L.  Gannon  and  TJiomas  Garvin  com- 
menced their  business  in  Plymouth  as  wagon 
makers  in  1850,  working  in  partnership  for  a 
time,  in  a  building  where  the  Ralston  House 
now  stands.  Dissolving  partnership,  Mr. 
Garvin  continued  in  the  business  until  his 
death  in  1867. 

T.  L.  Gannon  remained  until  after  the 
war,  when,  unfortunately,  some  relics  of  the 
"  late  unpleasantness  "  grew  to  such  propor- 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.         97 

tions  between  him  and  some  of  the  "  soldier 
boys,"  who  had  not  exhausted  their  war 
spirit  in  the  south,  that  he  thought  a  hasty- 
removal  desirable,  and  that  such  a  step 
would  be  in  the  interest  of  peace. 

David  Higby  settled  in  Plymouth  in  1847. 
There  are  some  items  in  his  history  worthy 
of  special  notice.  He  started  for  this  local- 
ity in  the  spring  of  1838,  with  a  wife  and 
two  children,  his  home  having  been  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  All  were  blown  up  in 
the  terrific  boiler  explosion  of  the  steamer 
Moselle,  near  Cincinnati.  His  wife  and 
children  were  killed.  He  barely  escaped 
with  his  life,  having  a  leg  and  an  arm  brok- 
en. For  ten  days  he  was  entirely  uncon- 
scious ;  and  as  his  life  began  to  come  back, 
his  first  knowledge  of  his  surroundings  was 
of  the  fact  that  two  bungling  doctors,  who 
had  given  him  up  to  die,  were  quarreling 
over  his  trunk  containing  several  hundred 
dollars  in  specie.  We  think  we  have  used 
the  qualifying  word  concerning  these  doc- 
tors advisedly,  for  the  reason,  that  during 
the  three  months  Mr.  Higby  laid  there,  un- 
able to  be  moved,  his  leg  was  broken  over 
and  reset  three  times,  and  then  left  in  a  con- 
dition that  made  him  a  cripple  for  life.  As 
soon  as  he  could  be  moved,  a  brother  came 


98  A  History  of 

out  from  New  York  and  took  him  home. 
He  remained  there  until  fall,  and  then  came 
out  to  Illinois,  locating,  for  the  time,  at 
Lamoine  mill,  where  he  worked  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Butler  Gates.  He  remained 
here  until  1843,  when  Mr.  Gates  sold  out  to 
Samuel  Doyle.  Mr.  Higby  then  went  with 
Mr.  Gates  to  Riverside,  and  was  engaged 
with  him  in  an  unprofitable  mill  enterprise 
on  the  rapids  of  the  Mississippi,  until  the 
spring  of  1847,  when  he  came  to  Plymouth, 
livingr  that  summer  in  the  house  of  Samuel 
Haggard,  on  the  site  of  P.  Metzgar's  present 
residence.  Durino-  the  following:  fall  or  win- 
ter,  Mr.  Higby  bought,  at  a  sale  by  order  of 
court,  the  Mormon  Hotel  property,  together 
with  the  entire  tier  of  lots,  one  to  six  inclu- 
sive, in  block  ten,  extending  from  Franklin 
to  Virgrinia  streets.  He  commenced  black- 
smithing  in  a  shop  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  square,  where  Bidwell  Bros.  &  Bo- 
man's  shop  now  is. 

He  built  a  shop  on  his  own  premises  in 
1849.  In  1850,  the  gold  fever  took  him  off 
to  California,  where  he  remained  for  one 
year.  Returning  from  there,  he  devoted 
himself  to  his  trade,  until  compelled  to  retire 
from  it  by  his  final  sickness.  He  built  the 
present  family  residence  on  Virginia  street 


Round  Prairie  and  PlyiJiouth.         99 

in  1858.  His  death  occurred  December 
loth,  1867. 

JoJui  J.  Hippie  commenced  business  in 
Birmingham  in  1847,  and  continued  there 
until  1854,  when  he  removed  to  Plymouth. 
Early  in  this  year,  he  built  a  store  on  lot  8, 
block  16  —  now  the  King  &  Son  place  —  on 
the  south  side  of  the  square. 

Mr.  Hippie  claims  the  credit  —  and  his 
claim  is  undisputed  —  of  putting  down  the 
first  sidewalk  in  Plymouth,  on  the  premises 
just  described.  It  was  a  small  beginning, 
extending-  eig-hteen  feet,  the  whole  leno^th  of 
his  store  front,  and  three  feet  wide. 

We  may  remark  here,  that  this  class  of 
improvements  has  kept  pace  with  the  growth 
of  the  town  to  a  good  degree,  although  there 
is  yet  room  for  more,  and  in  many  places  a 
much  better  style  than  that  which  now  pre- 
vails. 

In  the  fall  of  1854,  Mr.  Hippie  sold  out 
his  establishment  to  Sayler  &  Elliott.  The 
next  year  he  bought  the  west  half  of  lot  9, 
block  15,  of  William  M.  King  —  now  H.  G. 
Metzgar's,  —  built  a  store  upon  it,  and  re- 
commenced business.  In  a  short  time  he 
sold  out  to  David  Graham,  who,  in  a  few 
months,  was  succeeded  by  Kinsey  &  Gra- 
ham.    Mr.  Hippie's   residence,  on   Franklin 


lOO  A  History  of 

street  —  one  of  the  best  in  town  —  was  built 
in  1856. 

7.  M.  Rmidolph,  M.  D.,  followed  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  Birmingham,  from  1842 
to  1850.  During  a  part  of  this  time  he  rented 
and  run  the  sawmill  at  that  place.  In  1850, 
he  and  John  Hendrickson  bought  the  La- 
moin  mill.  In  1854,  the  firm  of  Randolph 
&  Hendrickson  commenced  a  mercantile 
business  in  Plymouth,  in  addition  to  their 
milling  business  at  Lamoin,  building  a  store 
on  lot  9,  block  16  —  premises  now  owned  by 
King  &  Son.  This  firm  dissolved  partner- 
ship two  years  later,  Randolph  continuing 
the  business  in  Plymouth,  and  Hendrickson 
taking  the  mill  property  at  Lamoin. 

The  Buzan  Biiilding — now  Walty's  — 
figured  as  a  prominent  business  corner  in 
the  early  history  of  Plymouth,  but  for  some 
years  it  has  been  lost  to  view  in  our  business 
record.  For  a  time  following  the  Mormon 
occupation,  it  was  abandoned  as  ahuman  hab- 
itation, and  left  open  as  a  convenient  shelter 
for  cattle  and  sheep.  It  was  afterwards  closed 
up  and  used  as  a  place  for  the  storage  of 
corn.  A  portion  of  it  was  refitted  for  habit- 
ation in  1848  or  '9,  and  occupied  by  Mr. 

Curtis,   who   taught   the    public    school    for 
three  or  four  years.     Afterward,  Mr.  Parley 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       loi 

Belknap  occupied  the  premises  with  his 
gunsmith  and  repair  shop,  and  also  as  a 
residence.  In  1854,  the  north  wing  of  the 
building  was  added,  and  the  house  occupied 

by  Mr. Sherman  as  a  boarding-house  for 

railroad  hands.  Near  the  same  time,  Mr. 
C.  W.  Johnson  commenced  business  in  the 
same  building,  dealing  especially  in  supplies 
for  the  railroad  men.  This  he  continued  for 
about  a  year  and  a  half.  At  one  time,  Mr. 
Johnson  was  connected  with  a  firm  of  rail- 
road contractors  who  operated  here,  but  this 
arrangement  continued  only  for  a  short  time. 
Dr.  James  Ross  also  owned  and  occupied 
the  building  for  a  time  as  a  hotel. 

Lewis  Graham,  cabinet-maker  and  under- 
taker, came  to  Plymouth  in  the  fall  of  1854, 
and  has  been  in  business  here  continuously 
since  that  time.  He  had  previously  been  in 
business,  for  three  or  four  years,  at  Lamoin 
Mill,  and  before  that,  at  Birmingham,  having 
come  to  the  vicinity  of  Birmingham  in  i'^'^']. 
Mr.  Graham's  place  of  business,  since  the 
first  year,  has  been  where  it  now  is,  on  lot  3, 
block  16,  southwest  corner  of  the  square. 

Esta  Bidwell  came  to  Plymouth  from 
Canton,  in  the  spring  of  1855.  The  next 
year  he  bought  of  D.  P.  Palmer  the  prem- 
ises   now  occupied  by  the  firm  of  Bidwell 


I02  A  Histo7y  of 

Bros.  &   Boman,   lot  7,  block  9,   northwest 
corner  of  the  square      With  the  exception 
of  a  temporary  return  to  Canton,  with   the 
view  of  locating  in  business  at  that  point, 
Mr.  Bidwell  has  carried  on  an  important  and 
increasing  business   from  that   time  to  the 
present.     His    own    special    department    of 
work  has  been  plow  making  and  blacksmith- 
ing ;   but  he  has  had  various   other  parties 
associated  with  him  from  time  to  time,  both 
in  the  iron   and  wood  working  departments 
of  his  business,  so  that  he  has  carried  on  a 
general  blacksmithing  business,  plow  making 
and  repairing,  wagon  making,  and,  to  some 
extent,  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  agricul- 
tural implements. 

Henry  Tuck  located  irf  Plymouth  in  the 
summer  of  1855.  He  commenced  work  in 
the  old  Van  Est  store  building,  lot  8,  block 
9.  The  next  year  he  built  a  shop  on  the 
north  side,  west  half  of  lot  2,  block  9,  where 
he  continued  in  business  until  that  corner 
was  burnt  out  in  1867. 

To  the  manufacturing  of  boots  and  shoes, 
Mr.  Tuck  has  added  the  business  of  general 
dealer  in  this  line  of  goods.  By  persevering 
industry  and  economy,  together  with  a  very 
little  judicious  speculation  in  real  estate, 
the  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  that  he 


Round  Prairie  a7id  Plymouth.       103 

brought  to  Plymouth  with  him  has  increased 
so  that  he  has  raised  a  large  family,  owns  a 
good  place  of  business,  and  a  snug  farm  a 
little  out  of  town,  on  which  he  resides  with 
his  family,  while  he  "  pegs  "  away  at  the  shop, 
as  though  it  was  the  "  last  and  awl "  (all)  of 
his  resources. 

Sayler  &  Elliott  we  have  previously  no- 
ticed incidentally  as  buying  out  J.  J.  Hippie 
in  the  fall  of  1854.  Mr.  Elliott  remained 
in  business  for  several  years,  and  will  be 
noticed  again  with  others  in  a  succeeding 
chapter. 

Dr.  Sayler's  connection  with  the  business 
of  Plymouth  was  not  of  long  duration.  He 
remained  in  partnership  with  Jacob  Elliott 
for  a  year  or  two,  and  afterwards  for  a 
shorter  period  with  Esta  Bidwell.  Dissolv- 
ing this  business  relation,  he  returned  to 
Indiana  in  1857. 

David  P.  Palmer  we  have  noticed  briefly 
as  succeeding  M.  C.  Johnson  in  business  in 
185 1.  We  have  only  to  add  here,  that  Mr. 
Palmer  carried  on  quite  an  extensive  mer- 
cantile business  for  about  seven  years.  For 
several  years  Mr.  Palmer  has  lived  on  a  little 
farm  two  and  a  half  miles  northeast  of  Ply- 
mouth. 

Nathan  H.  Grafton  (carpenter)  came  to 


I04  A  History  of 

Plymouth  in  1847,  —  lived,  for  a  time,  on  St. 
Mary's  Prairie.  In  1849  ^^  built  the  house 
now  occupied  by  Mr.  Cook,  on  lot  3,  block 
15.  A  few  years  later  he  moved  to  the 
place  near  the  railroad,  where  he  has  since 
resided. 

John  Hayden  (blacksmith)  came  to  Ply- 
mouth and  commenced  business  in  1847  or 
'8,  and  continued  it  until  his  removal  in 
1866. 

Among  others  in  the  same  line  of  busi- 
ness, we  may  mention  James  Riggin,  who 
worked  at  his  trade  here  from  1847  or  '8  to 
1852  or  '3  ;  and  Reuben  Cecil,  who  worked 
in  Plymouth  from  1847  to  1855,  and  has 
since  carried  on  a  shop  in  connection  with 
his  farm  near  Lamoine  Mill. 

John  W.  Boman  came  to  Round  Prairie 
when  a  boy,  with  his  father,  in  1834  —  learned 
the  blacksmith  trade  here,  and  commenced 
business  for  himself  in  1850,  and  has  been  in 
that  line  of  business  continuously  since  that 
time. 

Sajttuel  Tidbetts  formed  a  matrimonial  al- 
liance in  the  family  of  J.  W.  Bell  in  1850. 
At  this  time  he  was  a  clerk  in  a  store  in 
Quincy,  but  soon  after  removed  to  Plymouth, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  business  with  Mr. 
Bell   for  a  time.     He  was  employed  by  the 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       105 

railroad  company,  as  station  agent,  for  a 
short  time,  soon  after  the  completion  of  the 
road.  After  this  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  on  his  own  account  until  his  re- 
moval from  Plymouth  in  1861. 

Reube7i  Munday  came  to  Plymouth  in 
1852,  and  worked  at  blacksmithing  with 
David  Higby  about  seven  years.  After- 
wards he  followed  the  trade  on  his  own  ac- 
count east  of  the  square ;  then  on  the  west 
side,  corner  of  Main  street  and  the  square. 
Here  he  had  other  parties  in  partnership 
with  him  for  short  terms.  Quitting  the 
trade,  he  tried  the  grocery  business  for  a 
while  in  connection  with  a  Mr.  Edrington, 
having  for  this  purpose  fitted  up  the  shop 
where  he  had  carried  on  his  trade. 

He  left  Plymouth  late  in  the  year  1868. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

In  our  record  of  current  events  we  have 
now  reached  another  important  period  in 
our  history :  viz.,  that  which  marks  the  build- 
ing of  the  railroad,  now  known  as  the  Chi- 
cago, Bzirlington  and  Qiiijicy  Railroad.  The 
portion  of  the  road  connecting  Quincy  and 
Galesburg,  in  which  we  are  more  particularly 

8 


io6  A  History  of 

interested,  was  built  under  an  old  charter 
granted  for  "  The  Northern  Cross  Railroad]'' 
one  of  the  lines  projected  by  the  State  sys- 
tem of  1836.  The  route  contemplated  by 
the  charter  for  the  "  Northern  Cross "  rail- 
road was  substantially  that  adopted  by  the 
Toledo,  Wabash  and  Western  —  a  direct  east 
and  west  line.  How  such  a  charter  was- 
construed  to  cover  a  line  running  northeast 
to  Galesburg,  is,  of  course,  very  easily  un- 
derstood by  railroad  lawyers,  and  railroad 
men  generally,  and  citizens  along  the  line 
are  too  well  pleased  with  the  result  to  raise 
any  question,  even  if  the  case  were  open  to 
question,  as  to  the  propriety  of  "  going  east " 
from  Ouincy  and  intermediate  points  via. 
Galesburg;  consequently  we  do  not  get 
''cross"  by  reason  of  a  "  northern''  route  east. 
The  route  originally  consisted  of  several  in- 
dependent lines.  The  present  name  —  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  and  Qnincy — is  the  result 
of  a  consolidation  of  these  under  one  man- 
agement. 

The  surveys  for  this  portion  of  the  line 
were  made  principally  in  1853,  and  the  work 
upon  it  done  during  the  two  years  following,. 
it  being  completed  in  the  winter  of  1855-6. 
After  reaching  this  point  with  the  surveys,. 
an  effort  was  made  to  run  the  line  directly 


Ro7md  Pratrze  and  Plyniotith.       107 

to  Macomb,  substantially  on  the  line  of  the 
old  State  road ;  but  the  engineers  found 
Crooked  Creek  an  impracticable  barrier  in 
that  direction,  upon  any  grade  that  they 
were  willing  to  adopt.  Considerable  time 
was  spent  in  the  effort  to  find  a  crossing  in 
the  vicinity  of  Lamoine  Mill,  but  it  had  to 
be  abandoned  and  a  more  "  northern  "  route 
adopted  in  order  to  "  cross  "  Crooked  Creek. 
The  surface  of  Round  Prairie  stands  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  above  the  level 
of  Crooked  Creek,  and  where  the  elevated 
prairie  approaches  near  the  creek  the  diffi- 
culty of  getting  from  one  level  to  the  other, 
on  a  grade  something  less  than  forty  feet 
per  mile,  will  be  apparent  to  others  than 
engineers.  That  the  railroad  did  not  cross 
Round  Prairie  at  some  point  farther  east 
than  its  present  location,  is  due  to  the  sim- 
ple fact  that  the  ravine  running  from  the 
"  frog  pond "  originally  about  the  depot, 
north  into  Crooked  Creek,  furnished  the 
best  solution  of  the  engineering  difficulty 
above  stated. 

ADDITIONS    TO    THE    TOWN    PLAT    OF 
PLYMOUTH. 

The  building  of  the  railroad  suggested  to 
various  parties  the  propriety  of  giving  the 


io8  A  History  of 

town  more  room  in  which  to  spread  itself. 
Very  material  growth  was  generally  ex- 
pected. The  natural  laws  governing  the 
growth  of  towns  were  not  so  well  under- 
stood then  as  now.  With  the  facts  and 
•observations  of  twenty  years  experience 
around  us,  it  is  easy  to  philosophise  a  little 
upon  this  subject,  and  to  draw  important 
■conclusions  therefrom.  Among  such  con- 
clusions we  may  state  that  while  a  railroad 
adds  greatly  to  the  convenience  and  facili- 
ties for  doing  the  business  of  a  town,  it  does 
not  necessarily  attract  a  great  increase  of 
population. 

A  second  conclusion  is,  that  a  large  and 
productive  country  surrounding  a  railroad 
town  is  a  valuable  element  in  its  business 
prosperity ;  and  yet  this  condition  may  be 
•secured  without  adding  very  greatly  to  the 
population,  for  the  reason,  that  a  large  busi- 
ness at  any  given  point  may  be  done  by  a 
very  few  large  and  enterprising  firms. 

A  third  and  final  conclusion  is,  that  the 
most  effectual  way  to  build  up  a  town  is  by 
the  establishment  of  first-class  schools  and 
manufacturing  enterprises.  This  class  of 
improvements  will  attract  the  very  best  class 
of  citizens  to  a  place,  and  hold  them  as  per- 
manent  residents.     If  this  were  the  proper 


Roiuid  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        109 

place  in  which  to  do  it,  we  should  make  arn 
appeal  to  the  citizens  of  Plymouth,  to  place- 
her  schools  on  such  a  footino^  as  to  make  it 
to  the  interest  of  our  own  sons  and  daugh- 
ters to  remain  at  home,  and  receive  here  ar* 
education  sufficient  for  all  the  ordinary  avo- 
cations of  life,  and  to  fit  those  designed  for 
professional  life  to  enter  at  once  upon  a  pro- 
fessional course  of  study  when  they  go  else- 
where to  prosecute  such  a  course.  Such, 
schools  are  within  our  reach  ;  we  can  have 
them  if  we  will,  and  by  them  we  would  re- 
tain citizens  that  we  are  now  practically- 
driving  away  from  our  town  ;  and  at  the 
same  time  we  should  attract  many  others^ 
who  would  gladly  avail  themselves  of  sucb 
facilities  here,  and  who  would  buy  our  now" 
vacant  lots,  build  upon  them  and  make  their 
homes  with  us.  The  same  line  of  remark 
applies  with  all  its  force  to  the  benefits  de- 
rived from  manufacturing  enterprises.  Now^ 
as  our  young  men  grow  up,  there  is  no  profit- 
able employment  for  them  here,  and  the 
energetic  ones  seek  and  find  it  elsewhere,, 
while  many  of  those  deficient  in  energy  are 
left  as  a  burden  upon  our  hands.  And  a 
worse  feature  in  the  case  of  the  latter  is,, 
that  from  this  class  of  idle  young  men  is. 
developed  the  worst  classes  of  loafers  and 


no  A  History  of 

roughs  that  infest  society  everywhere.  All 
these,  and  scores  of  others,  should  be  able 
to  find  profitable  and  constant  employment 
in  shops  and  factories  here.  Both  town, 
and  the  country  surrounding  it,  would  be 
greatly  benefited  by  such  a  condition  of 
things :  the  town  by  an  increased  popula- 
tion and  business,  and  the  country  by  a  bet- 
ter home  market  for  its  productions. 

The  question  may  be  asked  by  some, 
what  all  this  moralizing  has  to  do  with  the 
■heading  under  which  we  have  placed  it. 
We  shall  endeavor  to  make  all  this  as 
■*'  plain  as  a  pike-staff,"  even  to  the  compre- 
hension of  the  dullest.  We  state  the  fact 
here,  that  will  appear  more  fully  a  little 
further  on,  that  the  limits  of  the  town  are 
considerably  in  excess  of  the  wants  of  the 
present  or  prospective  population,  unless 
.«ome  means  are  devised  to  attract  a  greater 
population.  Our  remarks,  we  think,  suggest 
the  best  possible  remedy  for  this  difficulty, 
and  we  commend  this  solution  to  the  owners 
of  vacant  lots,  and  to  all  others  interested  in 
the  prosperity  of  Plymouth.  The  arrange- 
ment, perhaps,  would  have  been  more  logical 
had  we  reserved  the  remarks  until  after  the 
statement  of  the  facts  upon  which  they  are 
based :    however,  we  are  not  aware  of  any 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       1 1 1 

law  compelling  us  to  follow  any  logical  order 
iin  the  arrangement  of  our  subject  matter. 

We   now  proceed  with  our  statement   of 
facts. 

In  1854  Bell,  Rook  &  Johnson's  Addition 
to  Plymouth  was  made,  adding  forty  acres 
to  the  original  fifty  in  the  plat  of  1836. 
This  is  by  far  the  largest,  most  important 
.and  most  successful  of  the  additions  made 
to  the  town.  It  embraces  ninety  lots  of 
•eighty  feet  front,  being  larger  than  the  lots 
in  the  original  plat,  they  being  but  sixty-six 
feet  front,  and  those  on  the  square  are  still 
less.  Those  on  the  north  and  south  sides 
.of  the  square  are  fifty-five  feet  front,  and 
those  on  the  east  and  west  sides  are  fifty- 
two  and  a  quarter  feet.  Ten  lots,  being  the 
whole  of  block  7  in  Bell,  Rook  &  Johnson  s 
addition,  are  occupied  by  the  school  prop- 
-erty.  Lots  i  and  2  in  block  8  are  occupied 
by  the  Congregational  Church.  On  the  re- 
maining seventy-eight  lots,  all  of  which  are 
•desirable  residence  property,  there  are  now 
a  little  less  than  thirty  dwellings.  Several 
'of  the  occupants  of  these  own  more  than 
one  lot,  so  that  the  difference  between  the 
-number  of  lots  and  the  number  of  dwellings 
represents  considerably  more  than  the  nu[n- 
l)er  of  vacant  lots. 


112  A  History  of 

Wilsons  Addition  comprises  two  blocks; 
south  of  East  Main  street,  between  the 
original  plat  and  Bell,  Rook  &  Johnson's- 
addition.  In  these  two  blocks  are  twelve 
full  lots,  and  four  fractional  ones  divided  by 
the  railroad.  The  only  residence  on  either 
is  that  of  Rev.  L.  Osborn,  on  block  two,, 
south  of  Summer  street. 

Cook's  Additio7i,  near  the  depot,  comprises- 
twenty-six  lots  —  say  ten  or  twelve  acres. 
Of  these,  block  i  consists  of  a  tier  of  nine- 
lots  lying  between  Depot  street  and  the 
railroad  grounds.  These  are  sixty-six  by 
sixty-six  feet,  and  on  this  block  are  three- 
buildings —  the  Cuyler  House  and  two  pri- 
vate dwellings.  Block  2  consists  of  nine- 
lots,  eighty  by  one  hundred  and  thirty-twO' 
feet,  and  block  3,  of  eight  lots,  eighty  by 
one  hundred  and  thirty-two  feet,  each  block, 
extending  in  a  single  tier  from  the  depot 
grounds  to  the  Augusta  road,  with  Hancock 
street  between  them.  On  block  2  there  is- 
one  dwelling  house,  and  on  block  3  there 
are  two :  in  all,  on  Cook's  Addition,  six 
dwellings.  The  Cuyler  House  was  built  by 
Anderson  in  1855,  sold  to  C.  H.  Cuyler  in- 
1857,  and  burnt  out  the  same  year.  Mr.. 
Cuyler  rebuilt  at  once,  and  had  personal 
charge  of  it  until  his   death  in  1867.     His- 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       \  i 


o 


family  have  continued  the  business  since 
that  time.  In  1874  his  son  Walter  retired 
from  railroad  business  and  took  charge  of 
the  hotel. 

The  Cuyler  House  has  always  maintained 
a  high  reputation  among  the  traveling  pub- 
'  lie,  as  among  the  best  kept  hotels  on  the  line 
of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  Rail- 
road. 

Madisotis  Addition  comprises  two  blocks- 
of  seven  lots  each,  one  block  on  each  side  of 
an  extension  of  Liberty  street  northward,  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  the  orio-inal  towni 
plat.  On  this  addition  there  is  one  dwelling; 
house. 

RaiidolpJi s  Addition  consists  of  twelve 
lots  west  of  the  original  town  plat  and  south 
of  West  Main  street.  These  are  uniform  in 
size  with  those  of  the  original*  plat,  except 
that  the  alley  does  not  extend  through  the 
addition.  On  this  addition  are  located  the 
steam  flouring  mill,  the  slaughter  house,  and 
the  calaboose.  Of  this  latter  valuable  pub- 
lic improvement  we  remark,  in  passing,  that 
it  was  built  by  the  town  in  1873,  at  an  ex- 
pense, say,  of  two  hundred  dollars.  At  va- 
rious times  its  occupation  by  various  parties 
would  have  contributed  greatly  to  the  peace 
and  quiet  of  the  town.     Its  location  is   not 


3  14  ^  History  of 

:such  as  to  attract  those  who  would  be  bene- 
fited by  a  temporary  residence  within  its 
walls,  to  a  voluntary  occupation  of  it,  and  as 
yet  our  town  authorities  have  not  used  their 
persuasive  if)  power  sufficiently  to  constrain 
any  one  to  dwell  therein,  and  consequently 
it  has  been  thus  far  without  an  occupant. 

The  Stemn  Flouring  Mill,  on  Randolph  s 
Addition,  was  commenced  in  1858,  by  J.  M. 
Randolph,  Jesse  W.  Bell  and  David  Higby. 
Before  the  machinery  was  put  in,  this  firm 
•dissolved,  and  the  mill  remained  unfinished 
until  1864.  It  was  then  put  in  running 
order  by  Randolph  and  Patterson,  and  run 
by  them  till  1867,  when  the  firm  changed  to 
Randolph  &  Metzgar.  Under  the  owner- 
:ship  of  this  firm  the  mill  was  rented  for  two 
years  —  to  Strunk  &  Gillis  for  six  months, 
and  to  Smith  &  Gillis  for  a  year  and  a  half. 
At  the  expiration  of  this  time,  in  the  spring 
•of  1869,  Mr.  C.  M.  Currens  became  sole  pro- 
prietor, and  has  run  it  under  his  own  per- 
sonal supervision   since  that  time. 

School  Buildings.  Having  previously  no- 
ticed the  first  efforts  made  in  this  line  of 
public  improvements,  it  remains  now  for  us 
to  trace  their  progress  down  to  the  present 
time.  We  have  noticed  the  use  of  a  cabin 
for  school  purposes,  in  the  southaset  part  of 


Round  Prairie  aiid  Plymoiiih.       1 1 5 

the  prairie,  in  1834;  also  the  building  of  the 
old  log  school  house  in  Plymouth  in  1836. 
Next  in  order  of  time,  we  mention  what  is 
known  as  the  North  School  House,  two  miles 
northeast  of  Plymouth.  The  original  log 
building  was  put  up  in  1847,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  present  neat  frame  building  in 
1864.  The  North  School  House  has  served 
the  double  purpose,  through  most  of  its  his- 
tory, of  a  school  house  and  a  place  for  neigh- 
borhood religious  meetings. 

o  o 

The  "  Round-  Top  "  School  House  was  built 
in  1847-48.  It  is  about  three  and  a  half 
miles  southeast  of  Plymouth.  On  the  part 
of  the  one  who  orio^inated  the  name  for  this 
building  there  was  evidently  great  need  for 
such  instruction  as  school  houses  are  de- 
signed to  promote.  He  manifested  very 
loose  and  confused  notions  of  very  simple 
geometric  forms.  The  top,  of  the  building 
was  in  the  form  of  a  blunt  pyramid ;  or,  to  de- 
scribe it  otherwise,  the  building  being  about 
square — say  20  by  20  feet  —  the  roof  was 
put  on  so  as  to  form  four  equal  sloping  sides. 
Out  of  this  peculiarity  in  form  originated,  in 
some  way,  the  name  Round  Top.  We  have 
heard  of  attempts  to  "  square  the  circle,"  but 
this  name  reverses  the  operation.  The  old 
building  gave  way,  in  the   fall  of  1871,  to  a 


ii6  A  History  of 

new,  larger,  and  commodious  modern  school 
building,  to  which  the  old  name  adheres. 
We  may  mention  here,  that  previous  to  the 
building  of  the  Round  Top  school  house, 
the  old  Congregational  Church,  out  on  the 
prairie,  was  sometimes  used  for  school  pur- 
poses. 

The  East  School  House,  in  the  Twidwell 
neighborhood,  was  built  in  1850 — a  frame 
building  that  served  the  community  for  more 
than  twenty  years.  In  1873  the  old  build- 
ing was  replaced  by  a  new  and  better  one. 
Until  the  building  of  the  Lamoin  Chapel„ 
in  1872,  the  school  house  was  frequently 
used  for  religious  meetings  and  for  Sunday 
schools,  as  well  as  for  school  purposes. 

The  Plymouth  School  Buildrng,  No.  2  — 
supplementing  the  log  building  of  1836  — 
was  erected  in  185 1,  on  lot  9,  block  8,  on. 
West  Main  street,  opposite  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  This  was  a  two-story  building,  the 
lower  story  being  built  by  the  district  author- 
ities for  school  purposes,  and  the  upper  story 
by  the  Sons  of  Temperance  for  their  especial 
use.  This  joint  ownership  continued  for  twa 
or  three  years,  and  then  the  Sons  of  Tem- 
perance sold  out  their  interest  in  the  build- 
ing to  the  school  directors.  This  building- 
continued  to  be  used   for   school   purposes 


Round  Pi'airie  and  Plymonth.       1 1 7 

until  the  completion  of  the  present  school 
building,  in  the  east  part  of  town,  in  1865. 
It  was  then  sold  and  remodeled  into  a  dwell- 
ing house.  It  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  H.  G. 
Metzgar. 

The  Plymouth  School  Buildi7ig  No.  j  is 
located  on  block  7,  Bell,  Rook  &  Johnson's 
Addition,  in  the  extreme  east  part  of  the 
town.  The  location  has  the  one  disadvan- 
tage of  not  being  central,  either  as  to  district 
limits,  or  as  to  population.  With  this  ex- 
ception it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  more 
eligible  site  for  school  grounds  within  the 
corporate  limits  of  the  town,  now  embracing 
the  entire  section  on  which  Plymouth  is 
built.  The  grounds  are  ample  and  "beauti- 
ful for  situation."  The  house  is  of  brick,  40 
by  50  feet,  two  stories  high,  containing  four 
school  rooms,  with  recitation  rooms,  etc.,  and 
affording  accommodations  for  about  two 
hundred  pupils.  The  building  is  in  good 
shape  to  have  a  wing  added  on  the  east,  suf- 
ficient in  size  to  afford  any  additional  room 
the  future  wants  of  the  place  may  require. 
This  school  building  has  a  history,  previous 
to  its  ownership  by  the  district,  that  will  be 
of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers. 

An  association  was  formed,  about  the 
close  of  the  year  1854,  or  beginning  of  1855, 


ii8  A  History  of 

called  "  The  Plymouth  Education  Society]'  for 
the  purpose  of  establishing  an  Accidemy. 
The  citizens  of  Plymouth  and  vicinity  sub- 
scribed and  paid  in  about  $3,000  towards  the 
enterprise.  Work  was  commenced  on  the 
building  about  the  first  of  September,  1855, 
and  in  November  following,  a  severe  wind 
storm  blew  dowm  a  portion  of  the  walls  of 
the  upper  story.  Work  upon  the  building 
was  then  suspended  until  the  next  spring, 
when  the  walls  were  again  put  up  and  the 
building  roofed. 

The  loss  and  damage  to  the  building  by 
the  storm,  and  disaffection  on  the  part  of 
some  of  the  heavy  stockholders  on  account 
of  the  location  of  the  building,  leading  them 
to  refuse  additional  subscriptions,  together 
with  the  fact  that  the  enterprise  had  been 
commenced  with  an  amount  subscribed  very 
much  short  of  what  would  have  been  required 
to  complete  it  without  the  unexpected  loss, 
led  to  the  total  suspension  of  the  enterprise. 
For  about  six  years  it  remained  in  statu  quo. 
In  1862  some  of  its  creditors  compelled  its 
sale  as  a  measure  of  public  utility,  the  school 
district  being  the  purchaser.  Most  of  the 
stock  was  donated  to  the  district,  a  few  only 
of  the  stockholders  demanding  any  return 
for  their  investment     A  large   majority  of 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply7nouth.       1 19- 

the  stockholders  were  residents  of  the  school 
district,  and  were  interested  in  having  the 
property  made  useful  for  school  purposes  in 
some  form,  as  the  whole  would  be  lost  to- 
the  public  if  diverted  to  any  other  purpose. 
Less  than  three  hundred  dollars  was  paid, 
by  the  district,  in  the  settlement  of  claims, 
for  the  property.  Including  the  finishing 
up  and  furnishing  ready  for  use,  the  cost  of 
the  property  to  the  district  was  about  three 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

The  Plymouth  Post  Office,  Postmasters  and 
Mail  Rotites.  We  have  noticed  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  post  office  in  Plymouth  in  the 
fall  of  1836 — Carroll  GNeil,  postmaster.. 
The  office,  during  his  administration,  was 
kept  in  his  cabinet  making  shop,  on  lot  2,, 
block  15,  east  side  of  the  square,  now  occu- 
pied by  Metzgar  &  Miller's  hardware  store. 
On  O'Neil's  removal  to  Macomb,  in  1839,. 
he  was  succeeded  as  postmaster  by  William 
M.  King.  The  office  was  then  moved  to 
King's  shop,  on  lot  8,  block  15,  south  side 
of  the  square,  now  Wade's  drug  store  build- 
ing. The  ofiice  remained  here  in  Mr.  King's 
charge  until  February,  1857,  when  he  was- 
succeeded  by  William  Melton.  Mr.  Melton 
removed  the  office  to  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  square,  where  the  post  office  building. 


I20  A  Histo7'y  of 

now  is,  and  from  thence,  in  a  short  time,  to 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  square,  in  Mr. 
Cook's  building.  Mr.  Melton  retained  the 
office  of  postmaster  for  about  a  year  and  a 
half,  and  was  then  succeeded  by  John  Cleav- 
land,  who  held  it  until  his  death.  He  was 
succeeded  in  turn  by  his  deputy,  ZT.  jR  Wier, 
who  held  it  until  May,  1861,  at  which  time 
yo/i7t  H.  Lawto7i  received  the  appointment. 
During  his  administration  the  office  was 
kept  at  his  place  of  business  on  the  west  side 
•of  the  square  —  now  the  Bybee  building. 
Mr.  Lawton  held  the  office  about  four  years 
and  a  half — until  near  the  close  of  1865  — 
at  which  time  he  was  succeeded  by  SaTtiuel 
Haggard.  During  his  time  of  service  the 
•office  was  kept,  part  of  the  time  on  the  west 
side  of  the  square,  in  the  building  on  the 
corner  of  lot  i,  block  16,  and  afterwards  on 
the  south  side,  lot  8,  block  16  —  now  the 
King-  &  Son  buildinor.  Failing  health  com- 
pelled  Haggard  to  resign,  and  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Mrs.  E.  S.  Hames  in  April,  1868. 
She  kept  the  office  on  the  east  side  of  the 
square,  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  S. 
K.  Gaylord.  On  her  resignation  and  re- 
moval, in  April,  1872,  E.  J.  Ellis  succeeded 
to  the  office.  He  removed  it  to  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  square,  in  the  Ellis  build- 
ing, where  it  still  remains,  in  his  charge. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        1 2 1 

Mail  Routes.  We  have  noticed,  in  Chap- 
ter VI.,  the  establishment  of  a  post  office  in 
Augusta,  in  1834.  At  this  time,  or  there- 
about, a  mail  route  was  established,  extend- 
ing east  and  west  across  the  country,  from 
the  Illinois  to  the  Mississippi  river.  Pre- 
vious to  the  building  of  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington and  Quincy  Railroad  this  route  was 
an  important  one.  Rushville,  one  of  the 
pornts  on  the  line,  had  a  post  office  some 
years  previous  to  this  time,  and  Augusta, 
Plymouth  and  Carthage,  with  some  interme- 
diate points,  fell  into  line  as  landmarks  on 
the  route.  The  buildinor  of  the  railroad 
brought  about  material  changes  in  the 
arrangement  for  supplying  various  points 
upon  the  line  with  the  mail.  A  daily  line 
was  established  from  Plymouth  to  Carthage, 
and  continued  until  the  completion  of  the 
Toledo,  Wabash  and  Western  Railway,  in 
1863.  A  weekly  route  was  then  established 
for  the  purpose  of  supplying  some  interme- 
diate points  between  Plymouth  and  Car- 
thage. The  discontinuance  of  the  post  office 
at  St.  Mary's,  and  the  establishment  of  one 
at  Martin's  Mill  on  Crooked  Creek,  called 
Joetta,  has  brought  other  changes.  Joetta 
was  supplied,  for  a  time,  from  Plymouth  ; 
but  by  the  present  arrangement  both  Middle 
9 


122  A  History  of 

Creek  and  Joetta  are  supplied  from  Carthage,, 
relieving  the  Plymouth  office  from  all  duty 
as  a  distributing  office,  except  for  the  old 
line  from  Plymouth  to  Rushville  via.  Bir- 
mingham, Brooklyn  and  Wayland.  This 
was  a  weekly  route  until  July,  1874,  at  which 
time  it  was  changed  to  a  tri-weekly  route. 

Neivspapp^r  Eiiterprise  — "  The  Ply7nouth 
Locomotive"  Amonof  other  thintrs  that  the 
building  of  the  railroad  was  expected  to  do 
for  Plymouth  was,  that  it  would  place  it  in 
a  condition  to  sustain  a  newspaper.  That 
such  an  institution  was  needed  in  a  rising 
town  like  Plymouth,  did  not  seem  to  be 
doubted.  That  it  could  be  sustained,  and 
would  be,  seemed  little,  if  any,  less  doubted. 
Enough  men  with  faith  and  hope  in  the  en- 
terprise were  found  to  furnish  the  means 
necessary  to  start  "  The  Plymouth  Locomo- 
tive'" with  a  full  head  of  steam.  It  was  put 
in  charge  of  an  experienced  engineer  and 
conductor,  in  the  person  of  Thomas  Gregg^ 
a  veteran  newspaper  man,  who  made  as  good 
a  paper  of  it  as  any  country  town  could  ex- 
pect. The  Plymotith  Locomotive  ran  well 
while  the  steam  was  kept  up  ;  but  the  run- 
ning expenses  for  fuel,  employes,  etc.,  were 
soon  found  to  be  in  excess  of  the  income. 
It  was  a  nice  thing  —  the  newspaper,  —  but, 


Ro2ind  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       1 2  3;' 

like  the  Indian's  gun,  "  it  cost  more  than  it 
came  to,"  Mr.  Gregg  ran  the  paper  for  sev- 
eral months,  and  then  a  Mr.  Hahn  attempted 
to  engineer  it  to  success  —  but  it  died.  Ply- 
mouth people  did  not  quit  reading  newspa- 
pers when  their  pet  died,  but  they  allowed 
others  to  make  them. 

The  Park.  When  the  town  of  Plymouth 
was  laid  out,  a  lot  containing  about  four 
acres  was  left  in  the  center  as  a  Square.  It 
is  nearly  a  square  in  fact,  being  396  feet  east 
and  west  by  41 2 1^^  north  and  south.  For 
nearly  thirty  years  this  remained  a  barren 
waste,  furnishing  quantities  of  dust  in  a  dry 
time,  that  the  winds  swept  relentlessly  into 
shops,  stores  and  dwellings ;  and  in  a  wet 
time  it  furnished  mud  in  abundance.  In 
1863  about  one  and  a  quarter  acres  in  the 
centre  of  the  square  were  fenced  in,  leaving 
a  street  or  carriage  way  on  the  outside  eighty 
feet  wide.  The  lot  enclosed  was  plowed, 
sown  with  grass  seed,  and  set  thickly  with 
forest  trees,  mainly  elm  and  soft  maple.  No 
attempt  at  artistic  arrangement  of  the 
grounds  was  made.  The  walks  run  straight 
through  in  line  with  the  principal  streets,, 
and  the  trees  are  in  parallel  rows ;  yet  the 
result  is  one  of  the  prettiest  little  parks  in 
all  the  regions  round  about.      Commercial 


124  ^  History  of 

and  other  travelers  have  remarked  that  it  is 
the  prettiest  to  be  found  in  any  town  of  the 
size  of  Plymouth  within  the  State.  This  is 
a  flatterine  remark,  for  the  truth  of  which  we 
do  not  vouch.  The  trees  in  the  park  have 
attained  an  average  height  of  not  less  than 
thirty  feet,  and  afford  a  dense  shade  over  the 
whole  ground.  The  grass  is  well  set.  There 
is  an  excellent  well  of  water  within  the 
errounds ;  and  that  nothino;  should  be  want- 
ing  to  make  the  place  desirable,  not  only  for 
recreation,  but  for  public  out-door  meetings, 
a  speaker's  stand  has  been  erected,  from 
which  orators  may  hold  forth  upon  the  va- 
rious topics  of  public  interest,  to  an  acre  and 
a  quarter  audience,  provided  they  are  able 
to  draw  so  much  of  a  crowd. 

The  Ce77tctery.  One  of  the  first  needs  of 
a  town  has  been  among  the  last  provided  by 
the  citizens  of  Plymouth  :  viz.,  a  suitable  and 
convenient  place  for  the  burial  of  their  dead. 
A  few  facts  may  be  worthy  of  statement  in 
this  connection.  Colonel  James  Clark,  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  town,  died,  and  was 
buried  on  his  own  premises  north  of  Ply- 
mouth. After  his  death  the  family  removed 
from  the  place,  and  the  property  passed  into 
other  hands.  Several  transfers  of  it  have 
since    been    made.       None    of  the    various 


Round  Prairie  a7id  Ply ?nout/i.       125 

owners  had  any  personal  Interest  In  preserv- 
ing the  grave,  and  the  result  is  that  the  site 
of  it  is  lost  and  the  ground  in  cultivation. 
There  is  a  family  burying  ground  on  the 
premises  of  Mr.  B.  A.  Eidson,  used  mainly 
for  the  family  of  his  father-in-law.  Mr.  Sam- 
uel HaofSfard,  deceased.  Another  for  the 
Gaylord  family,  in  a  good  location  on  the 
banks  of  Flour  Creek,  near  Mr.  McPheeter's, 
on  premises  formerly  owned  by  the  Gaylords, 
but  now  in  other  hands,  except  a- reservation 
including  the  burying  ground.  This  family 
burying  ground  affords  as  good  a  text  as 
any  for  a  remark  we  wish  to  make  concern- 
ing private  burial  places  :  viz.,  that  they  are 
very  likely  to  fall  into  disuse,  neglect,  and 
destruction,  as  such,  in  a  very  few  genera- 
tions. The  premises  surrounding  the  Gay- 
lord  burial  place  is  already  in  other  hands ; 
but  three  families  remain  in  the  neighbor- 
hood who  have  a  personal  interest  in  keep- 
ing it  up.  They  do  not  expect  to  use  it 
further,  and  the  changes  of  another  genera- 
tion may  leave  no  one  here  to  care  for  it. 

Another  burying  ground,  on  the  premises 
of  Dr.  A.  W.  King,  was  first  a  family  burial 
place,  and  afterwards  opened  to  the  public 
and  reserved  as  such  in  its  more  recent  trans- 
fers.     This    has   been    in   disuse   since   the 


126  A  History  of 

opening  of  the  Plymouth  Cemetery,  and 
many  of  the  bodies  taken  up  and  removed 
;to  Plymouth.  Many  graves,  however,  still 
remain  ;  the  fence  has  decayed,  and  as  a 
burial  place  it  is  fast  going  to  ruins.  There 
are  none  left  with  sufficient  interest  in  the 
remaining  graves  to  keep  up  the  grounds  or 
to  remove  the  bodies. 

The  Burton  burying  ground,  three  miles 
southeast  of  Plymouth,  has  come  into  such 
general  use  that  it  will  undoubtedly  be  kept 
up  as  a  public  necessity  for  that  neighbor- 
hood and  a  considerable  community  beyond 
it. 

The  Plymouth  Cemetery  Associatzoji  was 
■organized  in  May,  1867.  A  lot  was  selected 
on  the  premises  of  J.  W.  Bell,  northeast  of 
the  old  town  plat,  adjoining  the  premises  of 
Mr.  E.  Davis,  and  bounded  on  the  east  by 
the  railroad.  The  lot  contains  about  six 
acres,  and  cost  the  association  seventy-five 
dollars  per  acre.  Including  with  this  the 
cost  of  laying  out  and  fencing  the  grounds, 
and  other  incidental  expenses,  the  associa- 
tion have  expended  about  $1,000.  Their 
receipts  from  the  sale  of  lots  have  been 
about  $900.  When  the  receipts  from  the 
sale  of  lots  shall  exceed  the  expenses,  the 
constitution  of  the  association  provides  that 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply  month.       1 2  7 

all  surplus  shall  be  expended  in  improving 
and  ornamenting  the  grounds. 

The  first  interment  in  the  cemetery  was 
that  of  Mr.  J.  J.  Browning,  August  loth, 
1867.  During  the  eight  years  it  has  been 
in  use,  there  have  been  sixty-eight  deaths 
and  interments,  and  twenty-four  bodies  have 
been  taken  up  elsewhere,  and  reinterred 
here.  The  deaths  and  interments  in  this 
■cemetery  for  the  past  eight  years  represents 
the  average  death  rate  in  a  population  that 
will  not  vary  greatly  from  one  thousand  per- 
sons. This  will  give  an  annual  average 
death  rate  of  eight  and  a  half  persons  to  the 
thousand. 

As  showino-  the  difference  between  the 
rate  of  mortality  in  some  of  the  larger  cities 
and  our  little  country  town,  we  give  the 
following  statistics  : 

POPULATION.  DEATHS    PER    lOOO. 

New  York 1,000,000   32.6 

Philadelphia 728,000 26.  i 

Chicago 400,000 23.29 

Pittsburg 86,076 27.3 

Cincinnati 250,000 20.5 

St.  Louis 400,000 .20. 1 

The  average  rate  of  deaths  per  thousand 
persons  in  the  above-named  cities,  is  24.98, 
or  nearly  three  times  greater  than  that  of 
Plymouth  and  vicinity. 


128  A  History  of 


CHAPTER    XII. 

We  resume  the  business  history  of  Ply- 
mouth in  this  chapter,  with  the  purpose  of 
bringing  it  down  to  the  present  time.  It  is 
not  our  purpose  to  make  this  record  of  the 
business  enterprises  of  our  town  absolutely 
full  and  complete,  for  the  reason  that  a 
number  of  them  have  been  too  short  lived 
and  unimportant  to  deserve  a  permanent 
record  here.  We  shall  endeavor,  however,, 
to  make  it  sufficiently  full  for  all  practical 
purposes.  We  shall  have  occasion,  in  this 
chapter,  to  repeat  some  items  that  have- 
been  stated  in  a  previous  one,  for  reasons 
that  will  be  apparent  as  we  proceed. 

William  M.  King,  Esq.,  demands  some 
further  notice,  on  account  of  some  changes, 
in  his  business  arrangements  that  have  not 
been  previously  noticed.  Another  store 
building  was  put  up  on  the  east  half  of  lot 
9,  adjoining  the  old  premises  on  the  west,, 
and  the  old  place  sold  out.  This  did  duty 
for  several  years,  and  was  then  moved  back 
to  make  room  for  the  building  now  occupied, 
by  John  A.  Hamilton.  In  this  location  Mr.. 
King  had  in  partnership  with  him,  for  suc- 
cessive periods,  J.  H.  Denny,  A.  J.  Duncan,. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plyvioidh.        129 

and  j.  A.  Hamilton.  In  the  spring  of  1869 
Mr.  King's  sons,  VV.  E.  and  William  B.,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  King  Brothers,  bought 
out  the  store  that  C.  M.  Currens  had  owned 
and  run  for  a  time.  Here  they  carried  on 
business,  in  the  Randolph  building,  until 
1 87 1,  when  they  formed  a  partnership  with 
their  father,  under  the  firm  name  of  William 
M.  King  &  So7is.  The  new  firm  rented  the 
corner  store  on  the  east  side  of  the  squarer 
of  J.  W.  Bell,  where  they  have  continued  to 
do  a  laree  and  increasing"  business.  We 
may  note  further  changes  in  contemplation 
and  in  progress,  that  the  firm  will  develop 
fully  with  the  opening  of  the  year  1876. 
The  elder  son,  William  B.,  will  retire  from 
the  firm  at  the  close  of  the  year  1875,  in 
order  to  take  charge  of  an  extensive  farm 
of  600  acres,  that  he  has  recently  purchased 
east  of  Colmar.  The  firm  has  purchased 
the  Randolph  property  on  the  south  side,, 
and  also  the  Hill  property  adjoining,  and 
are  refitting  and  improving  it  to  meet  their 
increasing  business  requirements. 

Philip  Metzgars  business  changes,  im- 
provements, etc.,  require  further  notice.  The 
Metzgar  property,  on  the  south  side,  west 
half  of  lot  9,  after  passing  through  various 
hands,  as  previously  noted,  came  into  pos- 


130  A  Histoi^y  of 

session  of  parties  in  New  York,  from  whom 
Mr.  Metzgar  bought  it  in  1863.  He  carried 
on  business  here  until  1870,  when  the  build- 
ing then  on  the  place  was  moved  to  the  east 
■side  —  now  the  stove  and  hardware  estab- 
lishment of  Metzgar  &  Millei^  —  and  the 
present  building  put  up  in  its  place.  Mr. 
Metzgar  has  had  in  partnership  with  him, 
successively,  Benjamin  Warner  and  Lemuel 
H.  Johnson.  The  latter  retired  from  the 
firm  in  1873,  since  which  time  Henry  G. 
Metzgar  has  been  nominally  sole  proprietor. 

Kings  and  Metzgar's  establishments  are 
not  only  the  oldest  now  in  the  place,  but  for 
some  years  have  done  the  most  extensive 
business  of  any.  It  is  a  matter  that  may 
justly  cause  a  little  local  pride,  that  the 
business  managers  in  these  two  houses  now, 
are  young  men  who  have  grown  up  in  the 
place,  and  find  here  plenty  of  room  in  which 
to  develop  their  energy,  through  which,  to  a 
good  degree,  the  business  started  by  their 
fathers  has  been  pushed  into  the  front  rank. 
We  refer  to  Whitney  E.  King  and  Henry 
G.  Metzgar,  who  have  earned  and  justly 
deserve  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  their 
large  circle  of  business  and  other  acquaint- 
ances. 

Metzgar    &    Millers    establishment    de- 


Roicnd  Prairie  ajid  Plymouth.       1 3  i 

'Serves  a  place  in  this  connection,  as  it  is  a 
ib ranch  of  the  Metzgar  concern.  The  build- 
mg  —  referred  to  above  —  stands  on  lot  2, 
block  15.  It  is  the  one  built  by  J.  J.  Hip- 
pie in  1855,  and  moved  as  above  stated. 
The  firm  was  started  in  1870,  and  stocked 
in  part  by  a  division  of  the  stock  of  Metzgar 
»&  Co.,  the  hardware  carried  by  the  old  house 
being  transferred  to  the  new  firm,  and  to 
which  stoves  and  tinware  were  added.  Mr. 
Metzgar,  having  built  up  two  large  business 
establishments  in  Plymouth,  and  placed  his 
son  in  charge  of  one,  and  his  son-in-law  in 
•charge  of  the  other,  is  thus  relieved  from  any 
necessity  for  active  duty  in  either,  yet  keeps 
"himself  in  a  position,  as  partner  in  both,  to 
foster  the  interests  of  each. 

yoJin  A.  Haviiltons  earlier  business  his- 
tory in  Plymouth  has  been  alluded  to  in 
'Connection  with  that  of  J.  W.  Bell  in  a  for- 
mer chapter,  his  partnership  with  Mr.  Bell 
-extending  over  a  period  of  about  eight  years 
—  from  1854  to  the  fall  of  1862.  For  the 
next  few  years  Mr.  Hamilton  was  in  busi- 
ness in  Carthage  in  connection  with  Dr.  J. 
M.  Randolph,  and  also  for  a  short  time  after- 
Avard  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati.  Returning 
from  the  latter  place,  he  formed  a  partner- 
;ship  with  William   M.  King,  Esq.,  and  com- 


132  A  History  of 

menced  business  again  in  Plymouth,  January 
ist,  1868.  This  arrangement  continued  for 
three  years,  when  the  firm  dissolved,  and 
King  &  Sons  removed  to  the  old  stand  of  J, 
W.  Bell,  Mr.  Hamilton  remaining  at  King's 
old  stand,  where  he  continues  to  carry  on 
the  business  on  his  own  account. 

J.  M.  Randolph,  M.  D.  In  a  previous- 
chapter  we  have  given  some  account  of  his- 
business  history  up  to  the  time  of  the  disso- 
lution of  the  firm  of  Randolph  &  Hendrick- 
son  in  1856.  From  this  time  Dr.  Randolph 
carried  on  the  business  until  i860,  when  his 
brother-in-law,  C.  M.  Currens  went  into  part- 
nership with  him.  This  arrangement  con- 
tinued until  1867,  when  the  firm  dissolved 
and  Dr.  Randolph  removed  to  Carthage^ 
where  he  had  already  had  a  business  house 
carried  on  for  some  years.  His  milling 
business  here  has  been  noticed  in  connec- 
tion with  Randolph's  addition  to  Plymouth* 

CM.  Currens  came  to  Plymouth  in  i860, 
and,  as  stated  above,  was  in  partnership  with 
Dr.  Randolph  until  1867.  On  the  Doctor's 
removal  to  Carthage  at  this  time,  Mr.  Cur- 
rens continued  the  business  at  the  old  stand 
until  1 869,  when  he  sold  out  his  merchandise- 
stock  and  bought  the  steam  flouring  mill,  to 
which  his  personal  attention  has  since  been. 


Rou7id  Prairie  and Ply7)i02itk.       i  -i^'^ 

given.  The  business  career  of  Randolph  & 
Currens  has  been  a  successful  one.  The 
Doctor  came  to  Plymouth  at  perhaps  the 
best  time  in  its  history  to  build  up  a  pros- 
perous business ;  and  that  he  had  the  tact 
and  energy  to  do  it  is  attested,  not  only  by 
his  success  here,  but  by  his  successful  man- 
agement of  various  other  similar  enterprises 
elsewhere  at  the  same  time.  Mr.  Currens 
united  his  means  and  his  energy  with  the 
Doctor's  in  good  time  to  reap  the  richest 
business  harvest  the  past  history  of  Ply- 
mouth has  produced.  The  period  of  their 
partnership,  however,  was  not  all  business 
sunshine,  as  it  included  some  of  the  decline 
in  prosperity  that  followed  the  inflated 
period  of  war  times. 

Tho7nas  Rockey  located  at  Lamoine  Mill 
in  1856.  He  bought  the  mill  property  of 
John  Hendrickson  and  occupied  it  about 
three  years,  during  which  time  Mr.  Hen- 
drickson died.  Mr.  Rockey  failing  to  meet 
the  payments  on  the  property,  it  reverted 
again  to  the  Hendrickson  estate,  and  was 
sold  by  the  administrator.  Mr.  Rockey  then 
moved  to  Plymouth,  where  he  built  the  resi- 
dence now  occupied  by  Rev.  Doctor  Cor- 
field,  in  1861.  In  the  spring  of  1868,  on  his 
return  from  a  visit  to  Ireland,  he  bought  the 


134  -^  History  of 

east  half  of  lot  9,  block  16,  and  the  old  store- 
building  of  J.  W.  Bell,  that  stood  upon  the 
east  end  of  the  Ralston  place,  which  he 
moved  to  the  lot  just  designated,  and  in  the 
early  part  of  summer  opened  a  store.  He 
continued  in  business  here  until  late  in  1869, 
when  he  closed  up  and  removed  to  Berwick,, 
Illinois,  with  his  establishment.  His  present 
residence  is  Bushnell,  Illinois. 

The  present  occupant  of  the  premises  on 
the  corner,  John  Bagby,  succeeded  John  W, 
Shaffer  in  the  drug  business  in  1874. 

Jacob  Elliott.  In  a  previous  chapter  we 
noticed  the  commencement  of  Mr.  Elliotts 
business  in  1854,  the  firm  being  then  Sayler 
&  Elliott.  For  several  years  Mr.  Elliott 
continued  to  do  quite  an  extensive  business 
in  general  merchandise.  He  also  put  up  a 
hay  pi'ess,  and  for  some  time  did  quite  a 
business  in  baling  and  shipping  hay,  broom^ 
corn,  etc.  In  1864  —  perhaps  earlier  —  he 
removed  to  Canton,  from  which  place  he 
came  when  he  commenced  business  here^ 
and  where  he  still  resides. 

In  the  location  occupied  by  Mr.  Elliott  — 
lot  8,  block  16  —  there  have  been  a  number 
of  occupants  since,  some  of  which  we  shall 
refer  to  elsewhere.  Among  these  we  notice 
here,  Cyrtis  Elliot,  who  was  engaged  in  mer- 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       135 

chandise  about  two  years.  He  then  traded 
his  stock  and  business  with  J.  W.  Whittiiig- 
ton,v^\\o  had  bought  the  hay  press  in  1864  and 
run  it  up  to  this  time.  Mr.  Whittington's 
mercantile  career  was  cut  short  by  his  sud- 
den death  from  cholera  in  September,  1866.. 
He  was  succeeded  by  S.  K.  Gaylord,  and  he 
again  by  John  Hill  for  a  few  months,  and  he 
by  Jay  Davis  for  a  short  time. 

yay  Davis,  in  connection  with  S.  K.  Gay- 
lord,  has  been  variously  engaged  in  the  hay, 
grain,  and  stock  business,  and  more  lately  as 
partner  with  George  Smith  in  a  steam  saw 
mill  that  was  built  by  J.  H.  Young  in  Ply- 
mouth, and  moved  by  Smith  &  Davis  to  the 
timber  on  Flour  Creek,  near  Birmingham. 
Soon  after  this  removal  of  the  mill,  Davis 
sold  out  to  his  partner,  and  is  again  in  the 
grain  business. 

Gtcstavus  Michaelis  set  up  a  harness  mak- 
ing establishment  in  Plymouth  in  August, 
1869.  In  the  fall  of  1872  he  built  the  brick 
house  on  the  west  half  of  lot  8,  block  16.  In. 
addition  to  the  value  of  this  building  as  a 
business  house,  it  is  of  great  value  to  all  the 
owners  of  property  in  the  block,  as  present- 
ing the  only  barrier  to  a  sweeping  fire  in  a 
long  row  of  wooden  buildings. 

William  H.  Van  Dorn,  watchmaker  and 


136  A  Histoiy  of 

druggist,  was  a  resident  of  Plymouth  from 
1858  to  1861,  The  building  on  the  east 
half  of  lot  7,  block  16,  now  occupied  and 
owned  by  Henry  Tuck,  was  fitted  up  by  Dr. 
M.  M.  Hooten  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Van 
Dorn,  where  he  carried  on  both  branches  of 
business  named  above. 

The  Farmer  s  Chib  came  into  possession 
of  this  property  after  Mr.  Van  Dorn  left. 
This  organization  was  formed  in  1859.  ^""^ 
established  a  Union  Store,  the  leading  ob- 
ject in  view  being  to  inaugurate  the  cash 
system,  which  was  not  greatly  in  vogue  at 
that  time.  The  establishment  was  success- 
ful for  about  five  or  six  years,  and  paid  fair 
dividends ;  it  then  passed  into  private  hands. 
The  agent  of  the  Farmer  s  Club,  into  Av^hose 
hands  the  stock  passed,  found  that  doing 
business  on  borrowed  capital,  and  on  a  de- 
clining market,  as  was  the  case  for  some 
time  after  the  war,  was  not  profitable.  He 
then  tried  The  Banking  Busmess.  This 
business  being  done  on  the  system  so  popu- 
lar previous  to  the  elections  of  1875,  ^^^s 
furnished  the  operator  an  instructive  lesson 
that  all  inflationists  are  likely  to  learn  sooner 
or  later.  The  banking  business  in  Plymouth, 
on  the  inflation  scheme,  resulted  as  all  infla- 
tion schemes  of  banking  must,  if  worked  out 


RoM7id  Prairie  and  Plyinouth.        137 

to  their  legitimate  end.  Debt  as  a  founda- 
tion, instead  of  capital,  and  promises  to  pay  as 
a  circulating  medium,  work  finely  so  long  as 
the  projnises  are  current  in  the  market ;  but 
when  a  financial  pressure  urges  the  demand 
for  redemption  beyond  a  certain  limit,  a  col- 
lapse is  inevitable.  Our  banker  found  it  so 
in  his  experience.  Some  European  nations 
have  found  it  so  in  theirs.  The  writer  would 
regret  to  see  our  government  repeat  the 
folly. 

The  premises  last  referred  to  passed  into 
the  possession  oi Henry  Tuck  in  1870,  where 
he  still  continues  the  boot  and  shoe  business 
as  noticed  in  a  previous  chapter. 

David  Currens  is  the  owner  of  the  west 
half  of  lot  7.  He  bought  the  Fitzgerald 
property  of  F.  M.  Kinsey  in  1863,  and  car- 
ried on  business  there  until  1867,  when  he 
made  a  trade  with  T.  C.  Fitzgerald,  then  of 
Doddsville,  by  which  they  exchanged  loca- 
tions. Mr.  Currens  remained  in  Doddsville 
about  a  year,  and  then  returned  to  Plymouth, 
where  he  resumed  business  at  the  place 
stated  above,  on  lot  7.  In  1871  he  removed 
from  Plymouth,  returning  to  his  native  place 
in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  resumed  the  pro- 
fession of  teacher  —  that  to  which  his  atten- 
10 


138  A  History  of 

tion  had  been  mainly  devoted  before  coming 
west. 

Joseph  T.  Klepper,  boot  and  shoe  maker, 
began  business  in  Plymouth  in  1865.  He 
built  the  shop  now  standing  on  the  premises 
of  Mr.  Terry,  east  side  of  lot  6.  He  occu- 
pied the  place  but  a  short  time,  when  he 
sold  to   H.  A.  Jones.     Mr.  Klepper  died  in 

1874. 
Henry  A.  Jozies  came  from  the  State  of 

''  Ar-kan-saw'"  during  the  war,  in  1864.  Of 
the  various  trades  and  occupations  for  which 
his  past  experience  had  abundantly  fitted 
him,  bartering,  in  this  location,  seemed  to 
be  the  profession  into  which  he  settled  down 
with  more  grace  and  dignity  than  any  other 
that  he  attempted  ;  and  in  the  pursuit  of 
which,  by  shaving  and  saving,  he  has  ac- 
quired a  snug  property.  Were  his  literary 
acquirements  equal  to  his  natural  ability. 
Baron  Munchausen  would  have  in  him  a 
noted  rival. 

David  B.  Rankin  carried  on  a  restaurant 
in  what  was  then  a  part  of  the  Randolph 
property;  commencing  in  1868  and  closing 
in  1870,  at  which  time  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Moberly,  Missouri.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded in  this  business  by 

William   H.   Marsh,    during    the    years 


Roimd  Prah'ie  and  PlyDioutJi.        1 39 

1870-71,  or  rather  by  some  members  of  his 
family.  Mr.  Marsh  came  to  Plymouth  in 
1 865,  and  has  carried  on  business  as  a  cooper 
continuously  since  that  time.  His  shop  is 
on  Jefferson  Lane,  corner  of  Lexington 
street.  Hi?  brother  John  Marsh  was  in 
business  with  him  here  for  several  years, 
and  also  for  some  years  previous  in  connec- 
tion with  John  Wintermeyer,  their  shop 
being  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  corner 
of  Church  and  Summer  streets.  Another 
brother,  Edward  Marsh,  has  been  engaged 
in  the  shop  more  recently. 

Lewis  Graham's  business,  and  location  on 
the  corner  of  the  square,  lot  3,  has  been  pre-" 
viously  noticed.  The  building  he  occupies 
was  put  up  by  himself  in  1856.  This  prop- 
erty, with  the  adjoining  buildings  on  lot  3, 
block  16,  is  now  owned  by  John   Matteson. 

There  has  been  a  considerable  number  of 
persons  occupying,  and  quite  a  variety  in 
the  kinds  of  business  carried  on  in  the  two 
small  buildings  adjoining  Mr.  Graham's ; 
Samuel  Tibbetts,  George  W.  Ross,  and 
Carroll  &  Wade  being,  perhaps,  the  most 
prominent.  The  present  occupants  are 
Mrs.  Gregory,  dressmaker,  and  Miss  Graf- 
ton, milliner.  Of  the  latter  we  may  say,  that, 
while  she  has  tried  various  other  places  of 


140  A   History  of 

business  —  even  as  far  west  as  California, 
Plymouth  has  been  her  most  permanent 
abiding  place  and  most  successful  place  of 
business.  She  has  catered  to  the  votaries 
of  the  goddess  of  fashion,  here,  these  —  years, 
how  many,  "  this  deponent  saith  not."  We 
trust  the  fashion  of  her  familar  countenance 
may  not  change  for  many  years  to  come, 
as  do  the  fleeting  fashions  in  which  she 
deals. 

John  H.  Lazvton  bought  the  premises  of 
D.  P.  Palmer  —  lot  2,  block  16  —  in  1856, 
and  for  a  few  years  carried  on  business  in 
the  lines  of  furniture,  stoves  and  tinware. 
In  1 86 1  he  received  the  appointment  as 
postmaster;  this  he  retained  until  1865. 
At  this  time  he  sold  out  to  John  E.  Bybee, 
and  retired  to  a  small  farm  south  of  Ply- 
mouth, where  he  rusticates  amid  fruits,  flow- 
ers, etc. 

John  E.  Bybee  commenced  business  as 
above  stated  in  1865.  He  was  soon  joined 
by  his  father-in-law,  and  the  firm  of  Bybee 
&  Terry  have  carried  on  a  considerable 
business,  for  the  past  ten  years,  in  general 
merchandise.  Their  stand  is  among  the 
oldest  places  of  business  in  the  place. 

The  store  adjoining  theirs  on  the  north 
was  built  by  F.  M.  Kinsey  in  i860.     He  car- 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        141 

ried  on  business  here  until  1863,  when  he 
sold  out  to  David  Currens,  as  we  have  pre- 
viously stated.  The  property  came  into  the 
possession  of 

T.  C.  Fitzgerald  in  1867,  who  still  owns 
and  occupies  it.  He  has  been  in  mercantile 
business  but  a  part  of  the  time  since  his 
residence  in  Plymouth,  and  his  residence 
here  has  not  been  continuous.  He  removed 
to  Macomb  and  was  enoraored  in  business 
there  for  a  time,  returning  to  Plymouth 
early  in  1873. 

The  premises  on  the  corner,  lot  i,  block 
16,  was  built  by  Reiiben  Munday  in  i860, 
and  used  by  Munday  &  Madison  as  a  black- 
smith shop,  for  about  three  years.  The 
building  vvas  then  fitted  up  for  a  store,  and 
occupied  by  Mimday  &  Edrington  for  a 
time.     The  next  occupant  was 

E,  D.  Haggard,  who  carried  on  a  stove 
and  tinware  business  for  a  short  time.  Sam- 
uel Haggard  being  appointed  postmaster  in 
the  latter  part  of  1865,  kept  the  office  at  this 
place  until  his  brother  sold  to  Ross  in  1867, 
when  he  moved  it  to  the  store  of  S,  K.  Gay- 
lord,  on  the  south  side,  as  previously  stated. 
The  Haggards  were  succeeded  by 

The  Rosses,  father  and  sons  —  James  R. 
Ross,  John   A.    Ross  and    Henry   H.  Ross. 


142  A  History  of 

Under  different  firm  names  these  parties  car- 
ried on  business  about  four  years,  principally 
in  the  line  of  hardware  and  groceries.  They 
were  succeeded  by 

James  Wade  in  the  same  line  of  business. 
He  continued  for  about  two  years,  and  then 
went  into  partnership  with  his  brother  in 
the  drug  business.  The  building  is  now 
occupied   by  Albert  Walty  as  a  ware  room. 

Martin  Mesick  established  himself  in  Ply- 
mouth in  the  wagon  making  business  in  1864, 
and  still  continues  to  carry  it  on.  His  son, 
E.  D.  Mesick,  has  recently  taken  an  interest 
in  the  establishment,  making  painting  a 
specialty,  although  working  in  the  wood 
shop  as  occasion  requires.  Their  present 
shop,  on  West  Main  street  near  the  square, 
was  built  in  1868.  Mr.  Mesick  worked  pre- 
viously in  a  shop  on  the  west  end  of  the 
same  lot. 

Edward  Madison,  whose  partnership  with 
Reuben  Munday  in  the  blacksmithing  busi- 
ness has  been  spoken  of,  carried  on  a  shop 
afterwards  on  his  own  account,  on  another 
part  of  the  same  lot,  on  West  Main  street. 
He  was  succeeded  by  A?idreiu  jC.  Masengill 
in  1866,  who  still  continues  the  business  in 
the  same  location. 

Albert  Walty  came  tc   Plymouth  in  1856 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply  month.        1 43 

worked  and  for  a  short  time  at  his  trade,  as 
tinner,  with  John  H.  Lawton.  In  1857  he 
opened  a  shop  on  his  own  account  in  a  part 
of  the  building-  then  owned  by  Randolph  — 
now  King  &  Son.  In  1859  ^^  sold  out  to 
F.  M.  Kinsey,  then  doing  business  on  the 
Metzgar  corner.  In  i860  Mr.  Walty  estab- 
lished himself  in  Carthage,  where  he  carried 
on  a  prosperous  business.  In  1865  he  sold 
out  in  Carthage  and  returned  to  Plymouth. 
He  bought  the  residence  of  Dr.  M.  M.  Hoo- 
ton,  but  sold  it  soon  after  to  Mr.  Terry,  who 
still  owns  and  occupies  it.  He  also  bought 
the  place  he  now  occupies,  then  the  hotel 
property  of  Samuel  Ralston.  With  some 
changes  which  are  scarcely  worthy  of  notice 
here,  Mr.  Walty  has  carried  on  business  in 
this  location  for  the  past  ten  years.  His 
stock  consists  of  stoves  and  tinware,  hard- 
ware, furniture  and  agricultural  implements. 
In  1868  Mr.  Walty  made  a  trip  to  Europe. 
During  his  absence  his  store  was  occupied 
by 

W.  W.  Pond,  who  carried  on  a  grocery 
business.  Mr.  Pond's  business  career  at  this 
place  was  not  of  long  continuance,  as  on 
Mr.  Walty's  return,  he  removed  to  Ipava, 
where  he  is  now  in  business. 

We  have  already  noted  numerous  changes 


144  ^  History  of 

in  the  occupation  of  the  premises  now  owned 
by  Mr.  Walty.  But  there  are  more  still, 
which  may  as  well  be  stated  here.  After  its 
occupation  by  Sherman  &  Johnson  in  1854 
-55,  it  came  into  possession  of  John  Hend- 
rickson  in  1856,  who  occupied  it  until  his 
death  the  same  year. 

It  was  afterwards  occupied  by  John  H. 
Lawton,  and  by  Dr.  y.  R.  Ross,  previous  to 
its  occupation  by  Samuel  Ralston  in  i860 
and  1865  inclusive. 

Bidwell,  Brother  &  Roman.  The  senior 
member  of  this  firm,  and  the  establishment 
of  the  business,  have  been  previously  no- 
ticed. Andrew  Bidwell,  the  younger  brother, 
learned  his  trade  principally,  and  worked 
with  his  brother  Esta  until  1866,  when  he 
became  a  partner  in  the  establishment.  In 
the  latter  part  of  1872,  John  W.  Boman. 
whose  business  has  been  referred  to  in  a 
previous  chapter,  also  became  a  member  of 
the  firm.  Both  this  firm  and  Mr.  Mesick's 
are  giving  more  attention,  of  late,  to  a  finer 
class  of  carriage  work  than  formerly,  and 
with  good  success. 

David  W.  Hiiddleston,  who  now  owns  a 
blacksmith  shop  on  lot  3,  block  9,  com- 
menced his  business  in  Plymouth  in  1864, 
working  for  a  year  or  more  with  R.  Munday 


Round  Prairie  a7id  Ply inojcth.        145 

on  the  west  side,  —  afterwards  with  E.  Madi- 
son,—  then  for  a  time  on  his  own  account  in 
Mr.  Higby's  shop  on  the  north  side — -more 
recently  with  J.  W.  Boman  on  East  Main 
street,  and  now,  for  two  years  past,  on  his 
own  account  at  the  place  first  named. 

A.  S.  Newman  has  been  noticed  in  a  pre- 
vious chapter  as  buying  out  the  establish- 
ment of  T.  P.  Montgomery,  M.  D.,  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  square,  in  1857.  He 
and  his  brother,  N.  F,  Newman,  continued 
to  occupy  the  premises  for  about  ten  years, 
when  that  and  the  buildings  on  the  adjoin- 
ing lot  east  were  swept  away  by  fire.  A.  S. 
Newman  afterwards  fitted  up  a  room  for 
business  purposes  at  his  residence  on  West 
Main  street.  His  death  occurred  March 
i2th,   1873. 

N.  F.  Newman  has  gfiven  some  attention 
.to  the  lumber  business  during  the  past  few 
years. 

William  E.  Odell  put  up  a  building  on  lot 
2,  block  9,  in  the  spring  of  1856,  fitted  both 
for  business  and  residence  purposes.  He 
commenced  business  in  the  mercantile  line 
here,  but  continued  it  only  for  a  short  time, 
returning  to  his  farm  at  St.  Mary's.  Bell  & 
Hamilton  occupied  the  building  during  the 
summer  of  1858,  after  they  were  burnt  out 


146  A  History  of 

on  the  east  side.  The  Odell  property  was 
bought  by  William  M.  King,  Esq.,  and  traded 
by  him  to  Henry  Tuck,  and  again  traded  by 
him  to  N.  B.  Lawrence  for  the  farm  he  has 
occupied  for  several  years.  We  may  as  well 
say  here  that  He^iry  Tuck  has  added  another 
farm  to  his  possessions  recently  as  a  result 
of  driving  shoe  pegs.  How  many  more 
farms  he  will  own  before  he  drives  his  last 
peg,  we  suppose  is  largely  a  question  of 
time.  The  farm  just  bought  is  that  of  Chris- 
topher W.  Johnson,  lying  two  and  a  half 
miles  west  of  Plymouth,  and  near  Mr.  Tuck's 
other  farm. 

Machenheimer  &  Lawj'ence  occupied  the 
Odell  building  and  carried  on  a  general 
mercantile  business  during  a  part  of  the 
years  1859  ^"^^  i860.  For  the  next  two  or 
three  years  there  were  several  occupants 
and  a  variety  of  occupations,  among  which 
were  confectioners,  beer  and  whisky  saloons, 
all  of  which  were  short  lived. 

Joseph  A.  Currens  was  the  last  occupant 
of  the  premises.  He  commenced  the  stove, 
tinware  and  furniture  business  in  1863  ;  sold 
out  the  business  to  Albert  Walty  in  1865, 
and  soon  after  fitted  up  the  house  for  a  ho- 
tel. This  establishment,  with  Mr.  Tuck's 
shoe  shop  adjoinin<T.  and  the  Newman  bui''^- 


Round  P7'airie  a7id  Plyino7ith.        147 

ing,  were  all  burned  down  March  8th,  1867. 

John  G.  Follin,  M.  A,  owns  and  occupies 
lot  I,  block  9,  as  a  residence.  The  doctor 
came  to  Plymouth  in  1864,  and  has  built  up 
a  good  practice.  The  former  occupant  of 
the  doctor's  place  was  T.  L.  Gannon,  whose 
business  in  and  retirement  from  Plymouth 
the  first  of  the  year  1866,  have  been  pre- 
viously noticed. 

Mahlon  D.  Gillis,  dentist,  occupies  lot  6, 
block  10,  with  one  of  the  finest  residences  in 
the  town.  This  was  built  in  1869,  and  is  on 
the  site  of  the  first  building  put  up  after  the 
town  was  laid  out,  and  was  somewhat  noto- 
rious afterwards  as  the  Mormon  Hotel. 

Mr.  Gillis  came  to  Plymouth  in  1864;  has 
been  eno-aeed  in  the  millino-  business  here 
and  at  Bowen  for  some  years  ;  has  also  been 
in  the  lumber  business.  More  recently  he 
has  adopted  the  profession  of  dentistry,  and 
is  following  it  with  good  success. 

Dr.  Folliiis  neat  office  and  Wright's'^  Pic- 
ture Gallery,  which  is  not  so  neat  in  outside 
appearance,  but  turns  out  work  as  neat  as 
the  neatest,  completes  the  list  of  business 
and  other  establishments  on  the  north  side 
of  the  square. 

Robert  H.  Ellis  commenced  business  in 
Plymouth  in  i366.     For  four  years  he  car- 

*  Since  removed. 


148  A  History  of 

ried  on  the  wool  carding  business;  but  as 
this  occupied  only  a  part  of  the  season,  other 
enterprises  were  connected  with  it.  The 
carding  business  of  1866  was  done  in  a  build- 
ing now  used  as  a  dwelling,  in  the  northwest 
part  of  the  town,  on  lot  i,  block  6.  The 
next  year,  in  partnership  with  J.  W.  Shaffer, 
the  laro^e  building^  now  known  as  the  Post 
Office  Building,  on  lot  7,  block  10,  was  erect- 
ed. The  firm  of  Shaffer  &  Ellis  carried  on 
the  wool  carding,  lumber  and  hardware  busi- 
ness during  the  years  1867  and  1868,  Mr. 
Ellis  continuing  the  carding  business  for 
one  year  after  the  dissolution  of  the  firm. 
The  machinery  in  the  building  was  then 
sold  and  removed,  and  the  house  fitted  up 
for  business  and  residence  purposes.  Mr. 
Ellis  has  since  been  engaged  dealing  in 
stock  and  lumber  until  recently,  when  he 
entered  the  establishment  of  King  &  Sons 
as  salesman. 

Mrs.  Wright's  bakery  and  restaurant  and 
the  post  office  now  occupy  the  business  rooms 
in  the  Ellis   Buildinor. 

Mrs.  Belknap  is  the  owner  of  lot  8,  block 
10,  upon  which  is  the  carpenter  shop  and 
lumber  yard  carried  on  by  J.  W.  Shaffer, 
and  also  Kenjiedys  barber  shop.  The  pre- 
vious occupants  of  the  premises  were,  one 


Round  Prairie  and  Plyfiiozith.        149 

Noper,  a  German  tailor,  who  made  cheap 
clothing  through  the  week,  and  with  it  on 
his  arm  peddled  it  out  on  Sunday  to  the 
hands  then  at  work  on  the  railroad.  T,  L. 
Ganno7is  wagon  shop  was  also  upon  this  lot 
after  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  of  Gannon 
&  Garvin. 

Samuel  Ralston,  proprietor  of  the  Ralston 
House,  commenced  the  hotel  business  in 
Plymouth  in  i860.  He  occupied  the  Walty 
buildingr  —  which  had  been  used  for  this 
business  for  half-a-dozen  years  previously  — 
from  i860  to  1865,  when  he  sold  it  to  Mr. 
Walty  and  bought  his  present  stand,  which 
he  has  occupied  continuously  since,  except  a 
brief  absence  with  his  family  in  Washington 
from  december,  1871,  until  March,  1873. 
His  son  carries  on  the  harness  makinghusi- 
ness  now  in  a  part  of  the  same  building. 

James  Stone  bought  the  property  now 
owned  by  Mr.  Ralston,  after  Gannon  &  Gar- 
vin's occupation  of  it  with  their  wagon  shop. 
He  fitted  up  and  occupied  a  dwelling  house 
there  for  a  time,  then  moved  it  to  block  5,  and 
built  what  is  now  the  main  part  of  the  Rals- 
ton House. 

H.  A.  Markley  commenced  the  boot  and 
shoe  business  here  in  1858,  occupying  the 
premises  just    referred   to   above.     He    re- 


150  A  History  of 

mained  in  business  at  this  place  until  1863, 
when  he  removed  to  Indiana.  Afterwards 
he  established  himself  in  business  in  Quincy, 
where  he  now  is. 

Mj's.  E.  S.  Haines  received  the  appoint- 
ment as  postmistress  in  April,  1868.  She 
occupied  the  part  of  J.  W.  Bell's  building 
now  used  by  S,  K.  Gaylord,  and  kept,  in 
connection  with  the  post  office,  a  fancy  store. 
Her  administration  of  the  office  was,  in  many 
respects,  an  improvement  on  that  of  her 
predecessors ;  and  in  conducting  its  busi- 
ness, she  proved,  not  only  a  woman's  right 
to  be,  but  her  capability  of  being,  an  efficient 
public  officer.  Mrs.  Haines  resigned  the 
office  and  removed  to  Moberly,  Missouri,  in 
the  spring  of  1872. 

Samuel  K.  Gaylord  commenced  business 
in  Plymouth  in  the  fall  of  1866,  buying  out 
the  stock  of  general  merchandise  that  had 
been  owned  by  J.  W.  Whittington,  who  had 
died  but  a  short  time  before.  He  continued 
the  business  at  the  place  which  Whittington 
had  occupied,  on  the  south  side,  lot  8,  block 
16,  until  the  fall  of  1868.  From  that  time 
until  in  the  spring  of  1873  ^^  ^^^s  engaged 
in  the  hay  business,  in  the  season  for  it,  and 
in  the  grain  business  in  connection  with  Jay 
Davis,  under  the  firm  name  of  Gaylord  & 


Round  P7'airie  and  Plymouth.       1 5 1 

Davis,  also  in  buying  and  shipping  hogs  in 
connection  with  William  H.  Bell,  under  the 
firm  name  oi  Bell  &  Gay  lord. 

At  the  date  above  named  Mr.  Gaylord 
bought  the  stock  of  boots,  shoes  and  clotlmtg 
of  J.  W.  Bell  on  his  retirement  from  busi- 
ness, and  has  since  continued  in  the  same 
line  of  trade  at  the  place  of  business  last 
occupied  by  Mr.  Bell  on  the  east  side  of  the 
square. 

Adjoining  Mr.  Gaylord's  place  of  business 
is  the  millinery  and  dressmaki7ig  establish- 
ment of  Mrs.  R.  M.  Taylor.  The  premises 
were  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by  Miss 
A.  G.  Grafton,  then  and  now  in  the  same 
line  of  business,  but  now  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  square. 

W.  P.  Wid^ip,  and  Widup  &  Brother, 
dealers  in  furniture,  and  cabinet  makers,  car- 
ried on  business  in  the  shop  on  lot  3,  block 
15,  adjoining  Metzgar  &  Miller's  hardware 
store,  from  the  latter  part  of  1867  until  1871. 
W.  P.  Widup  died  January  15,  1871.  The 
brother,  A.  W.  Widup,  is  now  in  business  in 
Springfield,  Illinois. 

John  W.  Shaffer  established  himself  in 
Plymouth  as  a  carpenter  and  builder  in  1855, 
and  a  few  years  later  added  the  lumber  busi- 
ness in  connection  with  his  trade.     In  1867, 


152  A  History  of 

in  partnership  with  R.  H.  Elh's,  the  firm  put 
up  what  is  now  known  as  the  Post  Office 
Building,  and  carried  on  the  wool  carding, 
lumber  and  hardware  business.  After  the 
dissolution  of  the  firm,  in  1869,  Mr.  Shaffer 
bought  out  the  interest  of  J.  S.  Carroll  in 
the  drug  store  of  Carroll  &  Wade,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  square.  This  business  was 
continued  under  the  firm  name  of  Wade  & 
Shaffer  for  about  two  years,  when  Mr.  Shaf- 
fer bought  out  his  partner  and  continued 
the  business  on  his  own  account  until  1874, 
when  he  sold  out  to  John  Bagby. 

After  buying  out  the  drug  business,  Mr. 
Shaffer  remained,  for  about  a  year,  at  the 
old  stand  on  the  west  side,  then  removed  to 
the  shop  on  lot  3,  block  15 — east  side.  He 
remained  here  until  1874,  when  he  bought 
the  property  on  the  corner  of  lot  9,  block 
16,  made  an  addition  to  it,  fitted  it  up  for 
business,  and  moved  into  it  but  a  short  time 
before  selling  out,  as  above  stated,  to  John 
Bagby.  In  the  way  of  business,  Mr.  Shaffer 
has  returned  to  first  principles,  having  en- 
gaged again  in  the  lumber  trade,  together 
with  the  carpenter's  business. 

James  S.  Caj^roll,  in  connection  with  a 
Mr.  Vail,  established  a  drug  business  in  Ply- 
mouth in  1865.     The  next  year  the  firm  was 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       153 

changed  to  Carroll  &  Wade,  and  so  con- 
tinued till  1869,  when  Mr.  Carroll  sold  out 
to  J.  W.  Shaffer.  On  retiring  from  business 
in  Plymouth,  Mr.  Carroll  devoted  himself  to 
the  profession  of  music,  spending  some  time 
in  Boston  under  the  best  instruction  to  be 
had  in  that  city.  He  afterwards  established 
himself  in  his  profession  in  Grafton,  West 
Virginia,  where  he  is  now  in  successful  prac- 
tice as  teacher,  etc. 

Wade  &  Brother.  W.  D.  Wade,  M.  D., 
commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  1864. 
In  1866  he  bought  the  town  property  and 
practice  of  Dr.  A.  W.  King,  the  property 
being  that  now  occupied  by  the  firm,  and 
formerly  owned  by  William  M.  King,  Esq. 
The  same  year  he  formed  a  partnership,  as 
above  stated,  with  J.  S.  Carroll  in  the  drug 
business,  and  afterwards  with  J.  W.  Shaffer 
in  the  same  line. 

In  1873  the  firm  was  Wade  &  Bagby,  and 
in  1874  it  took  its  present  form —  Wade  & 
Brother. 

John  McGrew,  M.  D.,  located  in  Ply- 
mouth in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  1870. 
Office  and  residence  at  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  square. 

Newell  Sapp,  M.  D.,  after  several  years' 
practice  in  Birmingham,  removed  to  Ply- 
II 


154  ^  History  of 

mouth  in  1866,  where  he  has  retained  a  large 
share  of  his  former  practice,  together  with 
the  new  practice  gained  by  his  removal. 
His  office  and  residence  are  on  the  corner 
of  East  Main  and  Union  streets.  His  resi- 
dence has  lately  been  remodeled,  enlarged, 
and  greatly  improved,  making  now  the  most 
stylish  house  in  the  place. 

Lumber  Dealers,  Among  those  not  pre- 
viously noticed,  we  name,  without  particu- 
larizing, the  following:  viz.,  James  Irwin, 
Charles  O.  Walton,  Walker  &  Ross,  T.  O. 
Fortner,  and  Post  &  Sapp. 

Tho77ias  J.  Farley  came  to  Plymouth  in 
1855,  worked  at  blacksmithing  for  Higby  & 
Munday  about  a  year,  and  then  went  into 
partnership  with  John  Hayden  in  the  same 
line  of  business.  Here  he  remained  until 
his  enlistment  in  the  army  in  March,  1863. 
After  his  discharge  in  1865  he  removed  to 
Macomb,  where  he  still  resides. 

Carpenters.  Among  those  who  are  now, 
or  have  previously  been,  residents  of  Ply- 
mouth for  a  considerable  period  of  time,  we 
mention,  as  engaged  in  this  line  of  business, 
C.  H.  Dodd,  James  H.  Graham,  James  W. 
Johnson  (now  of  Carthage),  Robert  Morri- 
son, and  Thomas  W.  Monk. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plyinouih.        155 

SUMMARY    OF    BUSINESS,   DECEMBER,   1875. 

Agricultural  Implemeiits.  Bidwell  &  Co., 
Albert  Walty. 

Boots  and  Shoes.  S.  K.  Gaylord,  Henry 
Tuck. 

Blacksmiths.  Bidwell  &  Co.,  D.  W.  Hud- 
dleston,  A.  J.  Massengill. 

Bricklayers.  T.  C.  Fitzgerald,  William  S. 
Hendricks. 

Butcher.     W.  D.  Burdett. 

Barbers.     H.  A.  Jones,  George   Kennedy. 

Clothing.     Samuel  K.  Gaylord. 

Cabinet  Maker  and  Undertaker.  Lewis 
Graham. 

Carriage  Makers.  Bidwell  &  Co.,  M. 
Mesick  &  Son. 

Carpenters.  C.  H.  Dodd,  N.  H.  Grafton, 
James  H.  Graham,  Thomas  Monk,  —  — 
Mourning,  J.  W.  Shaffer. 

Drugs.  John  C.  Bagby,  H.  G.  Metzgar, 
Wade  &  Brother. 

Dentist.     Mahlon   D.  Gill  is. 

Dry  Goods,  Groceines,  etc.  Bybee  &  Terry, 
John  A.  Hamilton,  William  M.  King  &  Sons, 
Henry  G.  Metzgar. 

Drayman.     H.  C.  Nicholson. 

Fur7iiture.    H.  G.  Metzgar,  Albert  Walty. 

Flouring  Mill.     C.  M.  Currens. 

Grain  Dealer.     Jay  Davis. 


156  A  History  0/ 

Hotels.  Cuyler  House,  by  W.  F.  Cuyler  ; 
Ralston  House,  by  Mrs.  Ada  Evans  &  Co. 

Hm'dware,  Stoves  and  Timvare.  Metzgar 
&  Miller,  Albert  Walty. 

Harness  Makers.  Gustavus  Michaelis, 
Metzgar  &  Co.,  Samuel  Ralston. 

Jewelry  Repairs. Wilson. 

Lumber  Dealer.     J.  W.  Shaffer. 

Livery  Stable.     W.  D.  Burdett. 

Ministers.  J.  D.  Baker,  Congregational ; 
W.  F.  Cellar,  Presbyterian  ;  —  —  Corfield, 
Baptist;  R.  G.  Hobbs,  M.  E.;  L.  Osborn, 
Baptist. 

Milliners  and  Dress  Makers.  Miss  A.  G. 
Grafton,  Mrs.  Gregory,  Miss  Kate  Pigman, 
Mrs.  R.  M.  Taylor. 

Physicians.  John  G.  Follin,  John  Mc- 
Grew,  Newell  Sapp,  William  D.  Wade. 

Painters.     S.  C.  Gilbert,  E.  D.  Mesick. 

Restaurants.     Mrs.  Wright,  Clem.  Belote. 

Stationery.     E.  J.  Ellis,  P.  M. 

Station  and  Express  Agent.  R.  C.  Mi- 
chaels. 

AVERAGE    ANNUAL    AMOUNT    OF    BUSINESS. 

We  close  the  business  record  of  the  place 
with  some  facts  and  figures  concerning  the 
amount  of  business  done.  Through  the 
kindness    of    Mr.    R.    C.    Michaels,    station 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        1 5  7 

agent,  we  have  been  permitted  to  gather 
statistics  from  the  books  of  the  railroad 
company,  upon  which  the  following  state- 
ments of  facts,  and  estimates  drawn  there- 
from, are  based.  The  facts,  we  are  confi- 
dent, will  be  of  interest  to  our  readers,  al- 
though the  comparison  they  may  be  the 
means  of  furnishing  with  other  points  might 
not  be  flattering  to  our  pride.  In  making 
these  estimates  we  have  taken  three  periods 
seven  years  apart:  viz.,  1858,  1865  and  1872, 
which  we  think  will  give  a  fair  average  of 
the  business  of  Plymouth  for  the  past  twenty 
years. 

Contributions  to  tJic  Railroad  Company  by 
the  business  of  Plymouth  : 

1858.  1865.  1872. 

For  freight  received,      $4,753-96         $7,645.08         $3.293-30 
forwarded,      4,520.93  6,763.47  6,214.40 


Total,     $9,274.89       $14,408.55        $9,507-70 

Average  amount  paid  annually  for  freights,  .  ,...$11,063.81 

"    tickets, 2,665,42 

"  "  "  "      to  express  company,     1,876.58 

"      total  railroad  business,  Plymouth  station,  $15,605,81 

Sales  of  merchandise.  In  making  our  es- 
timates of  the  amount  of  merchandise  sold 
in  Plymouth,  we  have  taken  the  amount  paid 
for  freights  received,  as  three  and  a  half  per 
cent,  of  the  valuation   of  the   merchandise 


158  A  History  of 

upon   which    such    freight    was   paid,   which 
gives  the  following  results  : 

For  1858,  $4,753.^6=3^  per  cent,  of  $135,860.57 
"  1865,  7,645.08  =  "  "  "  "  218,419.93 
"      1872,     3,293.30=   "       "        "        "         94,089.58 

Average  amount  of  merchandise  sold, $149,456.69 

To  which  we  add  for  merchandise  received  by  express. 
Annual  average  $765.93  =  8  per  cent,  of        $9,574.12 

Total  annual  sales,     $159,030.81 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

We  group  together  in  this  chapter  several 
subjects  that  have  no  connection  with  each 
other.  And  first  among  them  is  the  impor- 
tant subject  of 

Temperance  Crusading.  Local  incidents 
in  the  history  of  Round  Prairie  and  Ply- 
mouth, furnish  the  material  with  which  to 
illustrate  three  prominent  features  in  the 
temperance  movement:  v\z.,  7noral  suasion^ 
physical  suasion  and  legal  suasion. 

While  Plymouth  people  might  profit  by 
some  of  the  suggestions  of  Dr.  Dio  Lewis,, 
in  future  efforts  against  intemperance,  their 
own  past  history  is  of  much  practical  value 
as  a  oruide  for  the  future. 

The  earliest  important  public  movement 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        159 

in  the  temperance  cause  on  Round  Prairie, 
was  in  1842.  This  was  a  ripple  in  the  great 
Washingtonian  wave  that  swept  over  pretty 
much  the  whole  country.  The  culminating 
point  in  the  movement  here  was  the 

Temperance  barbecue  on  the  place  of  Mr. 
Allen  Melton,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Klepper. 
The  oratherincr  there  was  a  Qrrand  mass  meet- 
ing  of  the  people  for  discussion,  conference 
and  action  concerning  the  interests  of  the 
temperance  cause.  The  meeting  was  not 
distinguished  by  the  presence  of  any  great 
speakers,  nor  was  it  at  all  formal  in  its  char- 
acter ;  but  earnest  men  spoke  as  occasion 
seemed  to  require.  The  discussion  of  the 
subject  was  also  carried  on  between  individ- 
uals, and  in  groups,  a:nd  the  pledge  was  cir- 
culated and  held  ready  for  signature  at  all 
times.  The  Rushville  Band  was  present, 
and  added  greatly  to  the  interest  of  the 
occasion  by  the  music  they  furnished.  One 
of  the  members  of  the  band  —  Grove  Cun- 
ningham—  was  also  a  very  acceptable  and 
popular  contributor  to  the  entertainment  by 
a  liberal  supply  of  temperance  songs,  which 
he  gave  from  time  to  time,  as  needed  to  tur- 
nish  the  variety  so  desirable  in  a  well-ordered 
programme.  Thus  the  great  meeting  went 
on  for  two  days  ;  nor  were  the  physical  wants 


i6o  A  History  of 

of  the  company  neglected.  On  the  first  day 
two  tables,  each  sixty  feet  long,  were  spread 
with  beef^poi'k  and  77t7itton,  barbecued  in  the 
most  approved  style  of  the  art,  and  furnished 
with  the  necessary  accompaniments  of  a 
good,  substantial  meal. 

On  the  second  day,  after  having  preached, 
talked,  sung,  and  drank  coid  waiej-,  with  so 
much  fervor,  the  company  had  become  so 
greatly  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  the  ele- 
ment, that  the  grand  feast  of  the  day  con- 
sisted of  water —  7nelons.  These  had  been 
brought  in  by  the  wagon  load,  and  were  cut 
and  so  arranged  on  the  tables  as  to  produce 
the  best  artistic  effect  from  the  variety  of 
colors,  so  that  the  eye  and  palate  were  both 
feasted  at  once. 

Thus  passed  away  or»e  of  the  most  mem- 
orable and  unique  temperance  meetings  ever 
held  on  Round  Prairie.  The  immediate  ef- 
fect of  the  meeting  was,  that  the  temperance 
movement  made  nearly  a  clean  sweep  of  the 
entire  community  ;  scarcely  any  were  left,  at 
the  close  of  the  meeting,  who  had  not  signed 
the  pledge  ;  some  of  the  hardest  cases  were 
induced  to  sign  the  pledge,  07i  trial,  for  a 
li7}iited  ti77ic,  and  some  of  this  class  proved 
permanent  recruits  in  the  temperance  ranks. 

Another  effect   of  the   meeting  was,  that 


Rowid  Prairie  and  PlymoiUh.       i6i 

the  Impulse  given  to  the  temperance  cause 
here,  spread  out  into  the  adjoining  commu- 
nities. Young  men  took  the  pledge  and 
carried  it  from  house  to  house  in  "  the  re- 
gions beyond,"  and  in  this  way  secured  re- 
cruits in  large  numbers. 

The  influence  of  that  meetino-  rolls  on 
still,  widening  out  as  it  flows  down  the 
stream  of  time.  Its  plainest  manifestation 
at  the  present  time,  is  seen  in  the  strong 
element  of  temperance  sentiment  in  the  older 
citizens  of  the  place,  who  were  brought  under 
its  influence.  The  lessons  of  this  movement 
are  too  apparent  to  need  any  comment. 
The  means  used  to  advance  the  cause  were 
such  as  meet  universal  approval.  No  argu- 
ment is  now  made  against  moral  suasion  ;  it 
is  legitimate,  always  timely,  and  a  great  need 
now  is,  more  of  it.  Another  feature  in  the 
temperance  movement,  of  which  our  history 
furnishes  illustrative  incidents,  is  that  of 

Physical  suasion.  As  this  leads  us  upon 
debatable  ground,  we  will  state  our  position 
briefly  before  proceeding  to  detail  the  inci- 
dents. Physical  suasion  in  promoting  tem- 
perance, we  class  as  among  the  desperate 
remedies,  often  an  absolute  necessity  in  des- 
perate cases.  Blowing  up  a  building  with 
gunpowder,    under    ordinary  circumstances, 


i62  A  History  of 

would  be  a  desperate  act  to  commit  upon 
the  premises  of  a  neighbor  ;  yet,  if  a  great 
fire  is  sweeping  down  building  after  building 
in  its  resistless  onward  march,  and  the  en- 
gines are  found  too  weak  to  wrestle  with  the 
fire  fiend,  or  the  supply  of  water  inadequate 
to  quench  the  flames,  —  if,  in  short,  ordinary 
means  fail,  or  are  too  tardy  in  their  action, 
prompt  and  thorough  destruction  of  some 
valuable  buildings  may  be  the  wisest  and 
most  economical  measure  that  can  be  de- 
vised to  resist  the  destroying  element.  The 
case  supposed  is  a  desperate  one,  and  can 
only  be  met  by  a  desperate  remedy  —  a 
remedy  that  under  ordinary  circumstances 
would  be  altoorether  inadmissible.  Durine 
the  building  of  the  railroad  through  here  in 
1854-55,  the  heavy  work  about  Flour  Creek, 
and  at  the  Big  Fill  just  north  of  town,  kept 
a  large  number  of  men  employed  for  a  long 
time  in  our  immediate  vicinity.  A  consider- 
able number  of  these  were  a  class  of  Irish 
that  took  to  whisky  as  naturally  as  young 
ducks  take  to  water.  And  when  they  got 
access  to  the  whisky,  the  next  thing  in  order 
was  a  row,  in  which,  if  nobody  was  seriously 
hurt,  things  generally  were  so  deranged,  and 
the  workmen  so  unfitted  for  duty,  that  loss 
to  all  parties  was  an  inevitable  result. 


Rou7id  Prah'ie  and  Plymotith.       i6 


a 


CONTRACTOR    WING    TRIES     PHYSICAL    SUASION. 

There  had  been  one  row  already  at  Flour 
Creek,  in  which,  to  say  nothing  of  other  re- 
sults, one  man  had  been  seriously  stabbed. 
The  elements  were  about  ripe  for  another. 
An  old  Irish  woman  had  just  got  a  barrel  of 
whisky  on  the  ground,  with  which  to  turn 
an  honest  penny,  and  make  an  honest  (?) 
living  for  herself,  poor  soul.  For  aught  we 
know,  it  may  have  been  her  entire  worldly 
possession.  Certain  it  is,  that  for  want  of  a 
shanty  to  put  it  in,  she  had  stored  it  under 
the  friendly  shelter  of  a  fallen  tree  top. 

The  Sabbath  day  had  come.  Its  immu- 
nity from  labor,  and  a  full  barrel  of  whisky 
at  the  same  time,  formed  a  combination  of 
circumstances  that  it  needed  no  prophet  to 
foresee  portended  a  blaze.  One  of  the  con- 
tractors, Mr.  Wing,  saw  the  danger,  and  was 
ready  to  meet  it.  He  did  not  think  a  tem- 
perance lecture  and  the  circulation  of  the 
pledge  would  answer  the  purpose  in  that 
company,  and  at  that  time.  Nor  would 
legal  process  reach  the  case  in  time,  as  it 
could  not  even  be  commenced  until  the  next 
day,  when  that  particular  fire  would  have 
burnt  itself  out.  Some  shorter,  surer  pro- 
cess must  be  devised.     Calling  around  him 


164  A  History  of 

a  few  responsible  citizens  as  a  posse  to  guard 
against  any  interference  by  the  Irishmen, 
and  to  show  them  that  his  course  had  the 
approval  and  support  of  the  citizens,  Mr. 
Wing  appeared  on  the  ground  armed  with 
a  sledge  hammer,  a  few  vigorous  blows  with 
which,  upon  the  head  of  the  whisky  barrel, 
placed  the  whisky  where  it  was  in  no  danger 
of  doing  further  harm.  The  old  woman  had 
true  Irish  pluck,  ready  to  fight  for  her  rights, 
and  while  Mr.  Wing  plied  her  whisky  barrel 
with  the  sledge  hammer,  she  plied  him  with 
her  shillelah,  but  without  more  serious  dam- 
age than  knocking  off  his  hat  and  scattering 
the  papers  it  contained. 

This  was  a  peculiarly  hard  case,  as  esti- 
mated by  a  stickler  for  strict  adherence  to 
the  law.  A  terrible  outrage  on  the  rights, 
and  upon  the  property  of  a  poor  woman, 
and  that  upon  the  plea  of  being  a  remedy 
for  simply  presumptive  evils,  which  might 
never  have  occurred.  Exactly  so  !  And  so 
might  the  fire  have  burned  itself  out  before 
reaching  the  buildings  blown  up  to  stop  its 
progress.  They  were  destroyed  only  be- 
cause of  a  p7'estimptioii  that  they  and  others 
might  be  burned  if  not  so  destroyed.  In 
both  these  cases  estimates  can  be  made  of 
damages    sustained    in    the    destruction    of 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply^nouth.        1 65 

property,  and  the  legalist  who  can  or  will 
see  no  further,  may  demand  that  his  bill  be 
paid.  But  this  account  is  not  yet  closed, 
nor  can  it  be  until  an  estimate  be  made  of 
what  was  saved  by  its  destruction.  This  is 
a  fair  offset,  and  must  be  allowed  in  final 
settlement.  The  adjustment  is  simply  de- 
ferred until  the  Great  Judgment  Day,  which 
alone  can  close  the  account  properly. 

Case  No.  2.  Physical  suasion  vs.  Clay- 
bourn  Wilson.  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  man  of 
some  means,  and  importance  in  society  ;  was 
backed  by  respectable,  numerous  and  influ- 
ential friends  ;  a  man  of  such  intelligence,  as 
that  he  "  knew  his  rights,"  and  was  prepared 
to  assert  and  defend  them.  Among  the  in- 
alienable rights  which  he  claimed  as  a  free 
and  independent  American  citizen,  was  that 
of  selling  whisky  to  the  Irish  then  at  work 
on  the  railroad  north  of  Plymouth.  His 
plans  were  announced,  and  quite  generally 
understood  some  time  before  their  attempt- 
ed execution.  The  contractors,  and  the 
"  boss,"  knowing  well  what  turbulent  ele- 
ments they  had  to  deal  with  in  their  Irish 
laborers,  were  exceedingly  anxious  to  have 
whisky  kept  away  from  them,  and  in  this 
feeling  they  were  sustained  by  a  very  great 
majority  of  the  citizens.      Wilson  was   ap- 


1 66  A  History  of 

prised  of  this  feeling,  and  of  the  difficulties 
likely  to  grow  out  of  his  business  if  he  estab- 
lished it  among  such  elements.     To  this  he 
paid  no  regard  whatever,  taking  the  ground 
that  here  was  a  good  chance  to  make  money, 
and  he  was  determined  to  improve  it.     Find- 
ing remonstrance  of  no   avail,  he  was  then 
warned  that  he  would    not  be  permitted  to 
sell  whisky,  as  he  proposed,  under  any  cir- 
cumstances.    This  warning  was  met  with  a 
threat  of  shooting  the  first  one  who  dared 
to  interfere  with  him  or  his  plans.     Matters 
passed    along  quietly  for  a  few  days,  when 
one  fine  morning  the  "boss"  sent  notice  to 
some   of  the  citizens   that  Wilson   was   on 
hand  with  his  whisky,  and  that  he  wanted  a 
posse  to  come  down  and  help  him  out  of  the 
dilemma.     In  two  hours'  time   about  forty 
men  were   on  the   ground    from   Plymouth. 
Wilson  had  unloaded  two  barrels  of  whisky 
and  a  keg  of  brandy,  and  had  sent  his  team 
to  Lamoine  mill   for  lumber  with  which  to 
build  a  shanty  in  which  to  carry  on  the  busi- 
ness.    Only  the  Sunday  before,  a  two-gallon 
jug  of  whisky  had  been  brought  from  Augus- 
ta, the   use  of  which   resulted   in  a  row,  in 
which  a  shanty  was  burned  and  the  inmates 
maltreated,  an  attempt   being  made  to  kill 
the    man,  Pat    Mullen ;    this,    however,  was 
unsuccessful. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        167 

In  a  long  parley  with  Wilson,  by  the  citi- 
zens, this  incident  was  used  to  illustrate  the 
danger  and  impropriety  of  the  business  he 
proposed  to  open,  but  without  effect.  Offers 
were  made  to  hire  him  to  remove  his  stock 
and  desist  from  the  business,  also  to  buy  his 
stock  at  wholesale  prices  and  charges,  but 
neither  argument,  entreaty,  remonstrance, 
nor  the  offers  made,  produced  any  good 
effect.  He  had  come  there  to  sell  whisky 
at  retail  rates,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
money,  and  that  was  precisely  what  he  in- 
tended to  do.  Moral  suasion  being  exhaust- 
ed, one  of  the  citizens  seized  an  ax,  while 
another  placed  himself  in  a  position  to  see 
that  Wilson  did  not  execute  his  threat  of 
shooting,  and  in  a  few  minutes  mother  earth 
drank  in  the  whole  stock.  A  two-years  law- 
suit followed  in  the  wake  of  the  occurrence, 
pending  which  the  work  went  quietly  on  to 
completion  without  the  aid  of  whisky.  Nei- 
ther Wilson  nor  any  other  party  cared  to 
repeat  the  experiment  that  proved  far  from 
being  so  profitable  as  was  expected.  Wilson 
gained  his  case  in  court,  but  the  people 
gained  a  much  greater  one  in  the  interest 
of  temperance,  with  this  advantage  in  their 
favor :  the  benefits  of  the  verdict  for  the 
people  followed  promptly  upon  the  tapping 
of  the  barrels  with  the  ax,  while  with  the 


1 68  A  History  of 

delay  in  Wilson's  verdict,  all  his  expected 
opportunity  of  profiting  by  it  had  passed 
away. 

Case  No.  j.  The  ladies  a7id  physical  sua- 
sion. A  whisky  saloon  was  started,  in  1858, 
by  Thomas  Braanan,  on  lot  5,  block  22,  south 
of  Metzgar's,  corner  of  Summer  and  Charles 
streets.  He  had  the  audacity  not  only  to 
entice  several  boys  into  his  den,  and  furnish 
them  with  free  drinks  fixed  up  so  as  to  prove 
a  tempting  bait,  but  also  to  boast  that  he 
would  make  habitual  drinkers  of  them. 

These  facts  coming  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  mothers,  very  naturally  excited  both 
anxiety  and  indignation.  Remonstrance 
was  made,  but  without  avail.  Like  most  of 
his  class,  he  was  regardless  of  the  feelings 
of  others,  and  cared  only  for  the  present  and 
prospective  gains  to  be  reaped  from  his  cus- 
tomers. The  ladies  were  in  no  mood  to  be 
trified  with,  nor  to  be  baffled  in  their  deter- 
mination that  such  temptations  should  not 
be  held  out  to  their  boys.  A  call  was  made 
for  an  impromptu  meeting  of  the  ladies  of 
the  town,  at  the  house  of  one  of  the  num- 
ber, who  had  been  most  aggrieved.  The 
call  was  largely  responded  to,  some  of  the 
number  going  directly  from  a  female  prayer 
meeting  to  the  place  of  rendezvous.     After 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth,        1 69 

brief  consultation,  it  was  decided  that  sledge 
hammer  logic  was  altogether  the  best  adapt- 
ed to  meet  the  pressing  necessities  of  the 
■case.  It  was  a  style  of  argument  that  even 
a  saloon  keeper,  usually  so  impervious  to 
argument  of  any  kind,  would  be  most  likely 
to  appreciate  ;  it  would  reach  the  most  ten- 
der spot  about  him  —  his  pocket,  —  and  be 
well  adapted  to  produce  serious  reflection 
and  earnest  meditation  upon  the  uncertain- 
ties that  attend  —  selling  whisky  in  a  tempe- 
rance community. 

The  ladies  armed  themselves  with  axes, 
hatchets,  hammers,  etc.,  —  implements  well 
adapted  to  produce  impressions  if  vigorously 
used,  —  and  marched  from  the  place  of  ren- 
dezvous on  Lexington  street  —  a  name  cal- 
culated to  stir  brave  hearts  and  nerve  stronof 
arms  to  valorous  deeds  —  down  to  the  field 
of  action,  so  soon  to  be  drenched  in — whisky. 
The  news  had  spread,  and  although  the  men 
were  not  invited  guests,  they  came  flocking 
in  upon  the  ground  in  large  numbers.  The 
saloon  keeper  had  got  an  intimation  that  a 
storm  was  brewing,  and  made  what  prepara- 
tion he  could  to  meet  it  by  fastening  up 
doors  and  windows,  and  taking  refuge  him- 
self outside.  He  had  "  sowed  the  wind,"  and 
now  he  was  to  "reap"  the  harvest  —  "the 
12 


I70  A  History  of 

whirlwind."  When  the  whirlwind  of  deter- 
mined women  struck  the  frail  fabric  upon 
which  he  had  built  high  hopes  of  profit, 
doors  and  windows  went  in  with  a  crash. 
Talk  about  frail  wome7i,  if  you  will!  but  it 
may  be  as  well  to  seek  some  other  company 
than  this  for  the  purpose  of  illustration. 
Axes,  hammers,  etc.,  had  done  good  service 
in  securing  ample  ventilation  of  the  prem- 
ises. The  ladies  then  marched  inside,  and 
demolished  barrels,  demijohns,  kegs,  decan- 
ters, and  all  the  paraphernalia  of  the  estab- 
lishment. This  done,  they  quietly  dispersed 
to  their  various  homes,  and  resumed  their 
household  duties  as  usual. 

The  saloon  keeper,  poor  fellow !  we  can- 
not undertake  to  describe  his  feelines.  That 
he  was  deeply  moved  no  one  will  doubt.  It 
must  have  been  a  sad  spectacle  to  him  to 
see  his  choice  stock  of  liquors  dripping 
through  the  floor  into  the  ground,  and  not 
a  vessel  left  whole  in  which  to  gather  up  a 
parting  drink.  After  his  emotions  had  sub- 
sided, and  he  had  time  for  reflection  and 
consultation  with  some  of  his  thirsty  friends, 
it  was  resolved  that  a  lawsuit  would  afford 
the  best  hope  of  consolation  in  his  tribula- 
tion. He  tried  one  suit,  but  that  failed  to 
satisfy  him  ;  then  another  was  brought,  this 


Rotmd  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       i  7 1 

time  away  out  in  some  inaccessible  place  on 
Bear  Creek,  where  the  settlers  were  sup- 
posed not  to  have  strong  prejudices  against 
whisky.  Here  a  verdict  was  obtained  against 
a  few  of  the  ladies,  but  they  having  Jutsbands, 
the  only  responsible  parties  in  law,  the  judg- 
ment was  a  nullity,  and  here  the  matter 
ended,  leaving  the  ladies  virtually  victors  in 
both  features  of  the  contest. 

Crusading  by  legal  suasion.  We  give  a 
single  illustrative  incident  under  this  head, 
to  show  what  may  be  accomplished  by  hav- 
ing a  man  at  the  head  of  the  municipal  affairs 
of  a  little  town  like  this,  who  believes  that 
officers  are,  or  ought  to  be,  elected  for  the 
purpose  of  executing  the  laws,  and  who  is 
not  afraid  to  take  the  responsibility  of  doing 
his  duty.  The  lesson  ought  to  be  a  valuable 
one  to  such  officials  as  act  apparently  as 
though  they  were  elected  for  no  better  pur- 
pose than  to  serve  as  ornamental  figure- 
heads in  an  incorporated  town. 

L.  P.  Bell,  a  desperado  of  the  genus  whis- 
ky seller,  came  from  Mt.  Sterling  in  1865, 
and  established  himself  in  his  peculiar  busi- 
ness in  Plymouth.  He  had  received  encour- 
agement from  his  friends,  that  at  the  next 
ensuing  municipal  election  a  board  of  trus- 
tees would  be  elected  that  would  grant  him 


172  A  History  of 

a  license.  And  although  this  was  contrary 
to  all  precedent,  the  apathy  of  the  tempe- 
rance people  justified  the  prediction,  and 
nearly  verified  it  as  a  fact.  Bell,  however, 
•did  not  wait  for  the  election  and  a  license. 
He  came  here  to  sell  whisky,  and  went  at 
•once  about  it,  in  a  business  way.  He  built 
a  neat  shop  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Mesick's  wagon  shop,  and  fitted  it  up  in 
good  style  for  business,  stocked  it  up  with 
an  assortment  of  liquors,  and  opened  out. 
The  election  came  off,  and  it  was  generally 
supposed  that  the  result  verified  the  predic- 
tions of  Bell's  friends,  and  that  a  license 
would  be  granted  him.  Temperance  men 
began  to  wake  up  and  rub  their  eyes  open 
enough  to  see  the  situation.  A  petition 
was  at  once  circulated  against  the  proposed 
license,  and  signed  by  nearly  three-fourths 
of  the  voters  in  the  town.  This  was  pre- 
sented to  the  new  board  Immediately  upon 
its  organization  for  business.  C.  H.  Cuyler, 
Esq.,  was  a  member  of  the  board,  and  had 
been  counted  upon  as  a  license  man.  But 
he  took  the  ground  that  the  petition  repre- 
sented the  will  of  the  people,  which  they  as 
■officers  were  bound  to  respect.  Mr.  Cuy- 
ler's  position  turned  the  scale  in  the  board, 
and  the  license  was   not  granted,  and  Bell 


Rottnd  Prairie  and  PlymoiUh.        i  75 

was  notified  to  quit  the  business.  He  dis- 
regarded the  notice,  went  on  selling,  and 
expressed  his  determination  to  continue  the 
business  in  defiance  of  the  board  and  of  the 
law. 

Mr.  Cuyler  went  quietly  to  work  and  gath- 
ered up  the  necessary  proofs  upon  which  to 
base  an  action  at  law,  and  commenced  suit,, 
which  resulted  in  a  dismissal  of  the  case  at 
the  cost  of  the  town.  Cause  of  dismissal, — 
suit  entered  against  wrong  name.  Ten  days 
later,  another  suit  was  brought.  In  this  the 
jury  failed  to  agree.  Case  dismissed  again 
at  the  cost  of  the  town.  In  the  later  history 
of  our  town,  such  results  have  utterly  dis- 
couraged our  authorities,  but  not  so  with  C. 
H.  Cuyler,  Esq.  In  less  than  twenty  days 
he  had  Bell  up  for  trial  again,  resulting, 
this  time  —  the  third  efi^ort  —  in  a  judgment 
against  Bell  for  $75  and  costs.  Bell  appeal- 
the  case  to  Circuit  Court,  and  went  on  sell- 
ing whisky  as  though  nothing  had  happened. 
In  less  than  ten  days  'Squire  Cuyler  had 
him  up  again,  for  the  fourth  time  —  or  rather 
in  a  suit  which  was  a  continuation  of  the 
second  trial  in  which  the  jury  had  disagreed. 
The  result  of  this  suit  was  a  judgment  for 
$61.16^^  and  costs,  against  Bell. 

This  later  suit  was  followed   by  an  exe- 


174  ^  History  of 

cution,  or  attachment,  levied  upon  Bell's 
property  to  secure  the  costs,  etc.  To  the 
execution  of  this  process  Bell  offered  forci- 
ble resistance,  armino-  and  entrenchinof  him- 
self  within  his  saloon,  which  he  barricaded 
as  strongly  as  possible.  The  constable, 
Thompson  Burdett,  called  out  a  posse  to 
assist  in  storming  the  works.  Bell  threat- 
ened  to  shoot  the  first  man  who  entered. 
But  shooting  v/as  exactly  in  the  constable's 
h*ne,  Burdett  being  a  butcher  by  profession, 
and  Bell  knew  his  man  too  well  to  try  that 
game  with  him.  A  combined  attack  was 
made  upon  the  front  and  rear  of  the  works, 
that  proved  successful.  An  entry  was  made, 
and  the  officer  took  possession  of  the  entire 
stock  and  fixtures.  The  place  looked  so 
desolate  to  Bell,  now  that  his  property  was 
gone,  —  so  much  as  though  lightning  had 
struck  too  close  and  too  hard  —  that  Ply- 
mouth suddenly  lost  its  attractions  for  him 
as  a  place  of  business  in  his  line.  He  went 
to  Mr.  Cuyler  and  acknowledged  that  he 
had  been  fairly  and  honorably  beaten  in  the 
legal  contest,  and  that  "he  —  Bell  — would 
quit  if  the  board  would." 

The  board  offered  him  as  a  compromise 
measure,  which  he  accepted, —  the  payment 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymottth.        i  75 

•of  all  costs,  his  note  for  $25  to  the  corpo- 
ration, in  lieu  of  judgments,  which  he  said 
he  could  not  pay,  claiming  to  be  completely 
■"  broke,"  and  that  he  leave  the  place.  That 
note  for  $25  to  the  corooration,  if  not  yet 
worn  out,  could  probably  be  bought  "  cheap 
for  cash." 

We  are  inclined  to  comment  somewhat 
severely  upon  the  inefficiency  of  some  of  our 
officials  more  recently,  in  their  failure  to 
abate  the  whisky  nuisance  in  some  of  our 
■drug  stores  ;  but  we  forbear,  simply  holding 
up  for  their  emulation  the  example  of  C.  H. 
Cuyler,  Esq.,  and  urging  them,  like  him,  to 
persevere  until  success  shall  crown  their 
•efforts. 

We  wish  to  record,  here,  our  earnest  con- 
viction, that,  with  an  energetic  temperance 
man,  w^ith  ordinary  common  sense,  at  the 
head  of  our  municipal  affairs,  the  whisky 
nuisance,  in  high  places  or  low,  can  be 
abated.  We  do  not  believe  there  is  any 
man  now  in  the  business  here,  or  likely  to 
•engage  in  it,  who  would  continue  to  risk  his 
■capital  in  a  business  that  was  liable  to  the 
vexations  and  expenses  of  a  lawsuit  every 
ten  or  twenty  days,  even  though  he  gained 
nine  out  of  every  ten  suits  brouo^ht.     Law- 


1/6  A  History  of 

yer  fees  and  incidental  expenses,  if  imposed 
often  enough,  would  wear  out  the  patience 
of  even  a  whisky  seller. 

There  is  another  consideration  worthy  of 
notice,  in  cases  where  the  legal  machinery 
does  not  work  smoothly  in  the  interests  of 
temperance.  The  best  class  of  customers 
that  such  institutions  have,  are  men  who  do 
not  wish  to  be  brought  before  the  public  as 
witnesses.  Their  constant  liability  to  such 
publicity  as  witnesses  in  whisky  cases,  would 
drive  most  of  them  away  from  an  establish- 
ment liable  to  such  constantly  recurring 
legal  attacks,  and  in  this  way  the  revenues 
of  the  concern  would  be  greatly  diminished. 
Perseverance  is  a  cardinal  doctrine  in  our 
faith,  and  we  have  great  confidence  in  its 
value,  if  properly  applied,  in  conducting  the 
temperance  reform  by  legal  suasion. 

SECTION    II.       SOCIETIES. 

The  Sons  of  Temperance  formed  an  organ- 
ization here  in  1850.  This  proved  a  popu- 
lar and  successful  society  for  a  few  years^ 
gathering  in  a  large  number  of  members^ 
and  exerting,  for  the  time  being,  a  decided 
influence  upon  the  cause  of  temperance. 
But  it  died  and  received  an  honorable  burial ;, 
in  other  words,  having  valuable  property  in. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       i  7  7 

its  possession,  this  was  sold  and  the  proceeds 
distributed  among  the  members,  and  the 
society  was  then  regularly  disbanded. 

The  Good  Templars  were  organized  in 
1862,  and  for  a  time  were  prosperous  as  a 
society,  though  they  failed  to  reach  the  point 
of  influence  upon  the  the  temperance  cause 
that  had  been  attained  by  their  predecessors, 
the  Sons  of  Temperance.  The  strong  points 
in  this  society  were  its  social  and  literary 
features,  making  it  for  a  considerable  time  a 
popular  place  of  resort  for  young  people,  and 
a  number  of  older  ones  also. 

Dr.  Jewett,  for  forty  years  past  one  of  the- 
ablest  lecturers,  and  one  of  the  most  earnest 
workers  in  the  temperance  cause  in  this 
country,  has  recorded  his  deliberate  opinion 
that  the  attempt  to  advance  the  temperance 
reform  by  means  of  secret  societies  has 
proved  substantially  a  failure  —  that  they 
have  retarded  rather  than  aided  the  cause. 

We  think  the  whole  case  may  be  put  in  a 
nutshell.  The  first  great  want  is  an  enlight- 
ened public  sentiment ;  and  no  agency  ever 
has  or  will  be  devised  so  powerful  or  so  well 
adapted  to  accomplish  this  result  as  the 
churches  of  the  land.  The  second  great 
want  is  that  the  public  sale  of  liquor  be 
placed   under  the  ban  of  the  law  as   a  nui- 


1 78  A  History  of 

sance  to  be  summarily  abated  whenever  and 
wherever  it  shows  its  hideous  head.  When 
these  two  agencies  are  brought  up  to  their 
full  measure  of  efficiency,  the  temperance 
millennium  will  have  come.  We  are  dad 
to  note  the  fact  that  our  brethren  of  the  M. 
E.  Church  in  this  place  have  organized  a 
■church  temperance  society.  There  ought 
to  be  such  a  one  in  every  church  in  the 
place,  and  in  the  land  — "  a  wheel  within  a 
wheel."  The  inner  wheel  may  do  a  good 
work,  even  though  it  should  run  but  tempo- 
rarily, while  the  outer  one  —  the  church  — 
-will  grind  on  while  time  shall  last. 

Plymouth  Lodge,  No.  286,  A.  F.  and  A. 
Masons.  This  lodge  was  chartered  October 
7th,  1858.  The  following  were  the  officers: 
viz.,  Jonas  Aleshire,  W.  M. ;  Claiborn  H. 
Dodd,  S.  W.,  and  Lemuel  Johnson,  J.  W. 
Number  of  members,  sixteen.  Regular 
communications,  on  Saturday  preceding  full 
moon  in  each  month. 

Total  membership,  September  ist,  1875, 
iifty-seven. 

Samuel  K.  Gaylord,  W.  M.;  Henry  G. 
Metzgar,  Sec'y. 

PlymoiUh  Chapter,  No.  log,  Eastern  Star. 
This  institution  was  chartered.  May  nth, 
2872,  with  the   following  officers:    viz.,  Mr. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymonth.        i  79 

W.  H.  H.  Shreckengaust,  W.  C;  Mrs.  H. 
N.  Gillis,  W.  M.,  and  Miss  CalHe  Eidson, 
A.  M. 

Meetings,  second  Friday  in  each  month. 
Number  of  members,  September  ist,  1875, 
fifty-five. 

The  Pop2tlation  of  PlymoiitJi.  With  the 
aid  of  the  official  school  census  of  the  dis- 
trict, we  are  able  to  give  an  accurate  count 
of  the  citizens  of  the  town  for  October  ist, 

1875. 

There  are,  at  this  date,  within  the  corpo- 
rate limits  of  Plymouth,  one  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  (137)  families.  In  these  fami- 
lies there  are 

Over    21  years  of  age, 310 

Under  21     "      "     "     320 


Total  population,. .. .  630 
SECTION    III.       BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES, 

These  sketches  embrace  the  first  settlers 
diat  located  upon  Round  Prairie,  and  also 
the  founders  of  the  town  of  Plymouth,  in- 
cluding the  party  of  three  —  Matthew  Mel- 
ton, Allen  Melton  and  John  Trammel  — who 
came  to  Plymouth  in  1831  ;  Brummel  Sapp 
and  David  Manlove,  who  located  near  Bir- 
minofham  the  followino-  winter  ;  and  Colonel 
James   Clark,   J.  W.  Crockett,    L.  A.  Cook, 


i8o  A  History  of 

and  Benjamin  Terrell,  who  were  the  found- 
ers of  the  town  of  Plymouth  in  1836. 

Matthew  Melton  was  born  in  Nash  Coun- 
ty, North  Carolina,  May  17th,  1767.  He 
was  married  in  1 789  to  Chloe  Williams,  a 
daughter  of  Captain  William  Williams,  who 
served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

In  1797  Mr.  Melton  determined  on  going 
West,  and  we  feel  justified  in  saying  that  he 
arrived  at  this  conclusion  entirely  independ- 
ent of  the  advice  of  Horace  Greeley.  As 
widely  spread  as  that  terse  sentence  of  ad- 
vice uttered  by  H.  G. :  viz.,  "  Go  west,  young 
man,"  may  have  been,  we  are  sure  it  had 
no  influence  upon  Mr.  Melton  ;  he  was  im- 
pelled by  other  motives.  His  love  for  the 
wild  adventures  of  a  hunter's  life  led  him  to- 
plunge  into  the  wilderness  of  eastern  Ten- 
nessee, where  his  chosen  tastes  might  be 
fully  gratified  for  many  years  before  the  ad- 
vancing tread  of  civilization  should  again 
drive  the  game  out  of  his  reach.  From  his 
home  in  North  Carolina  he  traveled  in  a 
northwesterly  course,  following  up  the  gen- 
eral direction  of  the  streams  —  nature's  own 
pathways  —  until  he  passed  the  divide  and 
reached  Clinch  River,  whose  waters  flow  to 
the  southwest.  Here,  in  the  extreme  south- 
western   part   of  Virginia,  he   remained   for 


Round  Pra  uHe  ajid  Ply  mo  21  th.       1 8 1 

two  years.  From  thence  he  pushed  into  the 
wilderness  to  the  southwest,  a  distance  of 
not  less  than  two  hundred  miles,  in  an  air 
line  —  probably  three  hundred  by  the  route 
traveled. 

This  journey  was  commenced  with  a  two- 
horse  cart  as  a  conveyance  for  his  household 
effects  and  family,  this  now  consisting  of  his 
wife  and  two  children ;  but  long  before 
reaching  his  destination,  the  cart  had  to  be 
abandoned  for  want  of  a  road,  and  the  goods 
were  packed  upon  one  of  the  horses,  and  the 
family  upon  the  other,  Mr.  Melton  on  foot, 
with  his  gun,  leading  the  way.  Often  he  had 
to  cut  his  way  with  his  hunting  knife,  for 
long  distances,  through  the  cane-brakes,  in 
order  to  proceed.  He  finally  reached  Smith 
County,  Tennessee,  and  located  on  a  tribu- 
tary of  the  Cumberland  River,  called  Dry 
Fork.  Here  he  found  such  luxuries  as 
bear's  meat,  bear's  oil,  and  wild  honey,  in 
great  abundance. 

Notwithstanding  the  rich  luxuries  they 
enjoyed,  a  slight  change  in  diet  was  soon 
found  desirable,  and  after  completing  their 
cabin,  Mr,  Melton  built  a  canoe  and  paddled 
it  down  to  Haysborough,  near  where  Nash- 
ville now  stands,  and  procured  a  cargo  of 
corn,  with  which  he  returned  home,  making 


1 82  A  History  of 

a  round  trip  of  nearly  150  miles.  The  com 
was  prepared  for  use  by  pounding  in  a  rude 
wooden  mortar  —  the  mortar  made  by  burn- 
ing a  cavity  in  the  top  of  a  stump,  the  pestle 
suspended  above  on  a  spring-pole.  When 
the  corn  was  sufficiently  beaten  up,  it  was 
mixed  with  bear's  oil  and  cooked  with  apiece 
of  bear's  meat,  making  a  luxury  that  we, 
poor  mortals,  may  long  for  in  vain.  The 
first  winter  that  Mr.  Melton  spent  on  Dry 
Fork,  one  hundred  and  four  black  bears  fell 
victims  to  his  skill  in  hunting,  besides  other 
game  not  enumerated.  Bear  skins  were 
worth  about  fifty  cents  each  at  that  time,  at 
his  nearest  market. 

Mr.  Melton  remained  on  Dry  Fork  for 
twenty-three  years,  and  then  removed  to 
McMinnville,  Tennessee,,  where  he  lived 
seven  years.  In  1830  he  sold  out  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  came  to  Morgan  County,  Illi- 
nois. In  the  fall  of  the  following  year  he 
came  to  Plymouth  and  made  the  first  per- 
manent improvement  on  Round  Prairie, 
settling  upon  it,  as  we  have  stated  in  chap- 
ter III.,  in  1832. 

Mr.  Melton  was  the  father  of  thirteen 
children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  He 
was  an  old  man  when  he  came  to  Plymouth, 
and  there  is   but   little  to  note  concernine 


RoiLiid  Prairie  aitd  Plyiuotctk.       183: 

him  after  his  location  here,  that  has  not  been 
previously  stated.     He   died   February  9th. 
1845,  ^t  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.     His 
wife  survived  him  nine  years,  dying  in  1854,. 
aged  eighty-four  years. 

Allen  Melton,  son  of  the  above,  was  born 
on  Dry  Fork,  Smith  County,  Tennessee,. 
May  2d,  1808.  He  came  with  his  father  to 
Illinois  in  1830,  being  then  twenty-two  years 
old.  He  inherited  his  father's  love  for  the 
chase,  and  was  a  great  hunter  for  many 
years  after  coming  to  Illinois  —  indeed,  con- 
tinued to  be  so  while  game  was  plenty 
enough  to  justify  its  pursuit.  His  entire 
life,  from  the  above  date,  has  been  passed 
upon  Round  Prairie.  While  there  are  many 
older  persons  than  he  in  the  community,  he 
is  fairly  entitled  to  the  appellation  of  "  The 
Oldest  Inhabitant,"  being  the  only  resident 
survivor  of  the  first  settlers.  He  says  of 
himself  that  "  while  deer  were  plenty  he  was 
too  much  absorbed  in  their  pursuit  to  think 
of  the  dears]'  consequently  he  remained  un- 
married until  late  in  life.  Finally,  at  the 
mature  age  of  fifty-five,  he  married  Miss 
Margaret  Jane  Bonham,  the  happy  event 
being  consummated  in  a  patriotic  way,  July 
4th,  1863,  The  fruit  of  this  marriage  has 
been  five  children,  of  whom  three  are  living. 


I  $4  '-i  Hist07'y  of 

"  Uncle  Allen"  has  been  referred  to  in  the 
previous  pages  of  our  history  so  often,  di- 
rectly and  indirectly,  that  more  extended 
notice  here  is  unnecessary. 

John  Trajumel.  Of  the  place  or  date  of 
Mr.  Trammel's  birth  we  have  no  knowledge. 
The  first  introduction  we  are  able  to  sive 
our  readers  to  him,  is  upon  his  acquaintance 
with  the  Melton  family  in  Tennessee,  where 
he  married  Marv,  dauo^hter  of  Matthew  Mel- 
ton,  about  the  year  1825. 

He  came  with  the  Melton  fam.ily  to  Illi- 
nois in  1830,  and  to  Plymouth  in  1831,  pre- 
empted the  northwest  quarter  of  section  36. 
and  settled  upon  it  the  following  year.  This 
claim  was  afterwards  transferred  to  Colonel 
James  Clark,  and  Mr.  Trammel  located  upon 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  30,  township 
4  X.  4,  W.,  in  McDonnough  County,  where 
he  remained  until  1S69.  He  then  sold  out 
and  removed  with  his  family,  and  with  a 
number  of  his  neisrhbors,  to  Neosha  Countv, 
Kansas,  where  he  still  resides. 

Brummel  Sapp  was  born  in  Davidson 
County,  North  Carolina,  November  -,  1790. 
He  was  married  in  18 15  to  Elizabeth  Wier. 
He  came  to  Illinois  with  his  family  in  1S31, 
stopping,  for  a  time,  at  Rushville,  where  he 
arrived  in  November  of  the  year  just  named. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymotith.        185 

His  family  remained  in  Rushville  the  follow- 
ing winter,  while  he  came  to  Birmingham 
.and  built  a  cabin,  and  made  the  necessary 
preparations  for  a  permanent  location.  In 
April  of  the  following  year,  he  moved  with 
his  family  to  his  new  home,  the  place  being 
that  now  occupied  by  his  son,  S.  R.  Sapp. 
Here  Mr.  Sapp  remained  until  his  death, 
Avhich  occurred  March  31st,  1873. 

Mr.  Sapp  was  the  father  of  eleven  chil- 
-dren  —  nine  sons  and  two  dauorhters.  Of 
these,  eight  were  born  in  North  Carolina, 
.and  three  in  Illinois.  Seven  of  the  number 
are  still  living. 

David  Manlove  was  born  in  Davidson 
County,  North  Carolina,  December  27th, 
1795.  He  married  Keziah  Pickett,  but  the 
date  of  this  event  we  have  failed  to  obtain. 
He  devoted  himself  to  teaching  for  some 
years  before  leaving  the  south.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1828,  stopping  at  Rushville, 
where  his  brother,  Jonathan  D.  Manlove, 
had  settled  in  the  spring  of  1825.  (J.  D. 
Manlove  writes  :  "  I  am  the  only  man  in  this 
county  —  Schuyler  —  that  was  an  adult  when 
I  settled  near  where  Rushville  is,  in  the 
spring  of  1825.")  David  Manlove  came  to 
Birmingham  with  Mr.  Sapp  and  located  on 
the   adjoining   farm  —  now  J.  J.   Hippie's  — 

13 


1 86  A  History  of 

about  the  same  time,  in  the  spring  of  1832-, 
He  was  enorasfed  for  a  time  in  the  mill  en- 
terprise  in  Birmingham.  He  died  at  Fort 
Scott,  Kansas,  in  1864. 

John  W.  Crockett  was  born  near  Nicho- 
lasville,  nine  miles  from  Lexington,  Jassa- 
mine  County,  Kentucky,  March  17th,  1791- 
He  was  married  in  April,  181 1,  to  Louisa 
Ann  Bullock,  of  Greensburg,  Kentucky. 

Mr.  Crockett  was  a  volunteer  in  the  war 
of  1812-15  —  a  quartermaster  in  the  forces 
raised  by  Governor  Shelby  of  Kentucky  — 
was  in  the  army  of  General  Harrison  at  the 
battle  of  the  Thames,  at  which  Tecumseh 
was  killed. 

In  1822  Mr.  Crockett  removed  to  Simp- 
son County,  Kentucky,  where  he  resided 
several  years ;  from  there  he  removed  to 
Barron  County,  where  he  remained  a  few 
years,  and  came  from  there  to  Illinois  in 
1835,  locating  in  Plymouth.  He  bought  the 
claim  of  Allen  Melton  to  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  36,  and  lived  for  a  time  in  the 
cabin  which  then  stood  upon  the  square,  in 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  park. 

After  several  years'  residence  in  Plymouth, 
Mr.  Crockett  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  died 
at  Paducah  in  1853. 

Colonel  James    Clark.     Of  him  we  have 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        i8/^ 

but  little  definite  Information  —  a  letter  to- 
his  son  for  such  information  failing  to  elicit 
any  response. 

He  was  born  in  Virginia,  near  Charlotts- 
ville,  and  removed  from  thence  to  Kentucky. 
He  married  Maria  McCalla,  a  sister  of  Rev. 
William  McCalla,  a  Presbyterian  minister 
of  some  note.  Both  Colonel  Clark  and  his 
wife  were  cousins  of  Mr.  Crockett,  and  for 
several  years  they  lived  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood in  Kentucky,  and  emigrated  to 
Illinois  at  the  same  time,  locating  together 
in  Plymouth,  Colonel  Clark  buying  out  the 
claim  of  John  Trammel  to  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  36. 

Colonel  Clark  was  a  lawyer  by  profession, 
and  had  followed  its  practice  for  a  number 
of  years  in  Kentucky. 

He  lived  but  a  short  time  after  coming  to 
Illinois,  dying  in  the  fall  of  1837,  and  was 
buried  upon  his  own  premises,  in  a  grave 
that  has  been  so  neglected  that  it  would  be: 
difficult,  if  not  impossible,  now,  to  find  it. 

Lamarcus  A.  Cook  was  born  in  Plymouth,. 
Connecticut,  May  12th,  1794,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Maretta  Adkins.  Mr.  Cook  was 
raised  a  farmer,  and  has  followed  that  busi- 
ness nearly  all  his  life.  There  was  an  excep- 
tion of  three  or  four  years  while  he  lived  at 


i88  A  History  of 

the  east,  duringr  which  he  was  engfaged  in 
selHne  clocks.  He  commenced  this  business 
as  a  result  of  selling  a  piece  of  real  estate, 
for  which  he  was  paid  in  clocks.  After  sell- 
ing these,  he  continued  in  the  trade,  as  above 
stated,  traveling  quite  extensively  during  the 
time,  in  the  States  of  New  Hampshire,  New 
Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania.  The  style  of  clock 
sold  by  Mr.  Cook  was  the  wooden  mantel 
clock,  that  preceded  the  era  of  brass  clocks  in 
this  country.  These  were  sold  at  that  time 
at  about  an  average  of  twenty-five  dollars 
each,  and  a  year's  credit  given,  for  which  peri- 
od the  clocks  were  warranted.  This  mode  of 
doing  business  required  that  his  trips  over 
his  various  routes  of  travel  should  be  re- 
peated for  the  purpose  of  making  collections. 
These  were  made  rapidly,  often  at  the  rate 
of  sixty  to  seventy  miles  a  day.  His  man- 
ner of  treatincr  his  horses  on  these  lono- 
drives  was  peculiar,  and  may  be  of  interest 
to  some  of  our  readers.  His  plan  was  to 
water  them  about  every  five  miles  and  feed 
from  a  large  handful  to  a  quart  of  oats 
about  every  ten  miles,  making  no  stops  for 
these  purposes  of  more  than  four  or  five  to 
eight  or  ten  minutes.  He  says  his  horses 
were  always  fresh  and  in  good  condition, 
under  his  longest  and  hardest  drives,  while 
treated  in  this  way. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        1 89 

Mr.  Cook  was  enrolled  in  a  military  com- 
pany during-  the  war  of  1812-15,  and  held 
subject  to  duty,  but  was  never  called  intO' 
actual  service. 

In  the  spring  of  1835,  in  company  with 
Messrs.  Adkins,  Burton,  Terrell,  and  others,. 
Mr.  Cook  came  to  Illinois.  They  came  via. 
Philadelphia,  Pittsburg,  and  St.  Louis.  Here 
the  company  separated,  Mr.  Cook  and  Mr. 
Adkins  going  up  the  Illinois  River  to  Peo- 
ria and  thence  to  Farmington,  and  the  oth- 
ers by  way  of  Ouincy  to  Mendon.  This 
division  of  the  company  was  merely  for 
convenience  in  obtaining  temporary  accom- 
modations for  their  families,  as  they  had 
decided  to  locate  in  the  same  neiehborhood.. 
After  prospecting  a  portion  of  the  summer^ 
they  decided  upon  Round  Prairie  as  their 
chosen  home,  and  settled  here  in  the  fall  of 
1835.  M^-  Cook  still  resides  at  his  chosen, 
home  of  forty  years  ago.  He  is  now  in  his. 
eighty-second  year,  and  is  apparently  vigor- 
ous enough  to  last  until  his  centennial. 

Benjamin  Terreil  vjTis  born  at  Watertown, 
Connecticut,  February  14th,  1793,  and  was 
married  to  Electa  Cook,  September  21st,. 
181 5.  Mr.  Terrell  was  a  machinist,  but 
spent  most  of  his  life,  at  the  east,  in  making 
clocks. 

Eli  Terry  was  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the 


190  A  History  of 

■first,  to  establish  the  manufacture  of  wooden 
■clocks  in  this  country  on  an  extensive  scale. 
His  first  venture  was  in  making  three  of  the 
tall  clocks  that  would  reach  from  floor  to 
•ceiling,  the  works  of  which  he  whittled  out 
with  a  jack-knife.  These  clocks  were  sold 
at  forty  dollars  each.  Making  clocks  with 
a  jack-knife,  as  in  Germany,  was  too  slow 
a  process  for  Yankee  enterprise,  and  Mr. 
Terry  called  to  his  assistance  the  mechanical 
skill  of  Benjamin  Terrell  to  aid  him  in  mak- 
ing machinery  to  supplant  the  jack-knife  in 
doing  this  work.  In  making  such  machine- 
ry, and  in  the  manufacture  of  clocks,  Mr. 
Terrell  worked  for  a  number  of  years  for 
Mr.  Terry,  and  also  for  Seth  Thomas,  whose 
establishment  at  Plymouth  Hollow  was 
started  not  far  from  the  same  time  with  Mr. 
Terry's  at  Terryville.  Mrs.  Terrell  also 
worked  at  the  clock  business  in  her  younger 
'days,  her  work  being  the  painting  of  the 
■figures  and  ornamental  work  upon  the  dials. 
Her  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Terrell  was 
formed  while  both  were  workinor  in  the  clock 
factory.  (We  will  state  here,  that,  after 
Chauncey  Jerome  established  the  manufac- 
ture of  brass  clocks,  and  reduced  the  busi- 
ness to  the  most  thorough  system  by  letting 
•out  the  making  of  each  distinct  piece  in  sep- 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        191 

arate  contracts,  he  succeeded  in  reducing 
the  net  cost  of  making  a  complete  clock  to 
one  dollar.) 

As  we  have  stated  in  our  sketch  of  Mr. 
Cook,  Mr.  Terrell  located  with  his  family  on 
Round  Prairie  in  1835,  buying  out  the  claim 
•of  Matthew  Melton,  adjoining  that  of  Mr. 
Cook  on  the  west.  Here  he  made  the  at- 
tempt to  become  a  farmer,  but  Mrs.  Terrell 
says,  "  he  found  that  a  clock  maker  was  not 
the  best  material  of  which  to  make  a  farmer." 
In  1839  ^^^  moved  to  the  vicinity  of  Ouincy, 
to  aid  in  the  establishment  of  the  Mission 
I?istitute  and  to  give  his  children  the  benefit 
of  an  education  in  it.  He  remained  here 
until  this  enterprise  was  abandoned  on  ac- 
•€Ount  of  the  death  of  its  principal  founders, 
Drs.  Nelson  and  Hunter. 

Mr.  Terrell  worked  for  some  time  after- 
wards at  his  business  as  machinist  in  Ouincy. 
After  the  building  of  the  railroad,  he  again 
located  in  Plymouth.  In  1865  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Terrell  went  to  Shullsburg,  Wisconsin,  to 
make  their  home  with  their  then  recently 
widowed  daughter,  Mrs.  Reynard.  Here 
Mr.  Terrell  died  March  iich,  1868.  Mrs. 
Terrell,  with  the  daughter  just  referred  to, 
.are  again  residents  here  amid  the  changed 
scenes  of  their  early  western  home.      Mrs. 


192  A  History  of 

Terrell  is  now  at  the  advanced  ag"e  of  eighty- 
four  years. 

Of  the  subjects  of  these  sketches  we  will 
add,  that  while  Mr.  Terrell  lived  at  the  east^ 
his  church  relations  were  with  the  Episcopal 
Chtirch,  but  after  his  removal  to  Round 
Prairie,  he  with  his  family,  and  also  Mr. 
Cook  and  family,  were  among  the  original 
and  active  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  Mrs.  Colonel  Clark  and  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Crockett  were  amono-  the  original  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mrs,  Brummel 
Sapp  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

John  Trammel  and  Allen  Melton  united 
with  the  M.  E.  Church  during  the  revival  of 
1 841.  Allen  Melton  has  recently  changed 
his  relation  to  the  Congregational  Church- 
Mrs.  Matthew  Melton  was  a  member  of  the- 
Baptist  Church. 

A    GOOD    PLACE    IN    WHICH    TO    GkOW    OLD. 

It  might  be  inferred  from  the  low  rate  of 
mortality,  stated  elsewhere  in  these  pages  at 
eight  and  a  half  persons  per  thousand  annu- 
ally, that  people  live  to  a  good  old  age,  or 
move  away  when  they  get  tired  of  living  — 
on  Round  ^Prairie.  (This  sentence  maybe 
transposed  if  the  reader  prefers.) 

A  few  facts  which  will  be  of  interest  im 
this  connection  may  be  given. 


Ro7cnd  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        1 93". 

There  are  about  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  families  living  on  Round  Prairie,  includ- 
ing Plymouth  and  liirmingham.  In  these 
families  there  are  sixty  persons  now  living, 
whose  united  ages  amount  to  four  thousand 
two  hundred  and  thirty  (4,230)  years.  If 
these  sixty  persons  had  lived  in  a  single  line 
of  succession,  the  line  would  have  reached 
back  to  the  days  of  Noah.  Skeptical  reader, 
digest  that  fact  thoroughly  before  you  again 
express  a  doubt  as  to  the  authenticity  of 
records  extending  over  a  period  covered  by 
sixty  generations  such  as  Round  Prairie 
now  presents  a  sample  of. 

The  average  age  of  the  sixty  persons  al- 
luded to  is  seventy  years  and  six  months.. 
Eight  of  them  are  over  eighty  years  of  age  ; 
twenty-two  are  between  seventy  and  eighty,. 
and  thirty  are  between  sixty  and  seventy 
years  of  age. 


CHAPTER     X  I  V  . 

It  is  our  purpose  in  this  chapter,  to  finish 
up  our  record  of  the  various  churches  in  this 
community,  taking  up  those  previously  men- 
tioned, at  the  point  where  we  left  off,  as 
nearly  as  possible,  and  introducing  the  oth- 
ers in  their  order. 


'i94  ■       ^  History  of 

The  Alethodist  Episcopal  Chu7'ch  stands 
first  in  order  of  time.  The  facts  concerning 
this  organization,  previously  stated,  were  so 
brief  that  we  repeat  them  here  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  this  record  as  complete  as 
possible  in  itself  We  may  as  well  state 
here,  that,  on  account  of  the  want  of  any 
;records  of  this  church  durinof  a  considerable 
portion  of  its  early  history,  we  have  found 
great  difficulty  in  gathering  such  facts  as  we 
should  like  to  give  concerning  it ;  and  for 
the  same  reason  we  have  not  entire  confi- 
dence in  the  absolute  accuracy  of  all  the 
statements  we  have  made  ;  the  weakest  part 
of  the  record  being  the  list  of  preachers  we 
have  attempted  to  give,  extending  through 
a  period  of  over  forty  years.  The  part  of 
this  period  from  1835  to  1850  has  been  es- 
pecially difficult,  and  may  be  more  or  less 
imperfect.  We  have  consulted  the  best 
authorities  accessible,  and  have  done  the 
best  we  could  under  the  circumstances. 

The  first  class  in  connection  with  the  M. 
E.  Church,  was  organized  by  Rev.  Henry 
Somers,  of  the  Rushville  Circuit,  near  the 
close  of  the  conference  year  ending  in  the 
fall  of  1833.  This  class  was  formed  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  William  Edwards,  on  the  south 
;side  of  the  prairie,  now  the  Swicegood  place, 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        195 

and  consisted  of  six  members :  viz.,  Mr. 
William  Edwards  and  his  wife,  Mr.  Edward 
Wade  and  his  wife,  and  a  Mr.  Philips  and 
his  wife. 

This  society  remained  in  the  Rushville 
Circuit  until  about  1835,  and  was  supplied 
during  this  time,  by  Rev.  Peter  R.  Boring, 
with  preaching  once  in  two  weeks,  for  the 
conference  year  of  1833-4;  by  the  Rev'ds 
Pitner  and  Williams  during  1834-5,  and 
Rev.  T.  N.  Ralston  the  following  year. 

With  the  commencement  of  the  confer- 
•ence  year  1836,  Round  Prairie  was  placed 
■in  the  Pulaski  Circuit,  and  this  arrangement 
continued  until  1841.  The  preachers  for 
this  period,  from  the  best  information  ob- 
tainable, were  Rev'ds  Window,  Richmond, 
•Isaac  Poole,  Dr.  Strong  —  or  perhaps  Will- 
iam H.  Taylor,  and  William  Royal. 

The  preaching  place,  up  to  this  time,  re- 
mained at  the  house  of  William  Edwards, 
■on  the  south  side  of  the  prairie.  In  the  year 
1841  the  revival  occurred  in  connection  with 
meetings  held  at  Byrd  Smith's,  of  which  pre- 
vious mention  has  been  made.  Durinor  this 
meeting  the  place  at  which  circuit  preaching 
was  held  was  changed  to  Byrd  Smith's,  and 
so  continued  until  the  building  of  the  North 
School    House     in     1847.       Following    this 


196  A  History  of 

change  in  the  place  of  worship,  Round  Prai- 
rie was  changed  to  the  Macomb  Circuit,  and 
so  remained  until  in  1846.  The  preachers- 
tor  this  period  were  Rev'ds  William  Piper,. 
Pillsbury,   Elzie  Clark,  —  Cartwright, 

—  Ford,  and  Hadley  and  Applebee. 

The  following  year,  1847-8,  Round  Prairie 
was  placed  upon  the  Carthage  Circuit  — 
preachers  for  this  year,  Rev'ds  Applebee  and 
Atkinson.  The  next  year,  this  appointment 
was  again  placed  upon  the  Macomb  Circuit.. 

—  Clark  and  Cartwright,  preachers. 

From  this  time,  1849-50,  Round  Prairie 
was  again  placed  upon  the  Pulaski  Circuity 
and  so  remained  until  1853-4.  The  preach- 
ers for  this  period  were  Rev.  Greenbury  Gar- 
ner, who  remained  in  charge  for  two  years; 
Rev.  William  Piper,  and  Rev.  —  Cromwell.. 
The  regular  appointment  for  this  period  was 
at  the  North  School  House,  although  meet- 
ings  were  sometimes  held  in  Plymouth.  We 
may  as  well  state  here,  that  the  North  School 
House  was  continued  as  a  regular  preaching 
place  until  about  1862. 

In  1853  this  society  built  their  house  of 
worship.  It  is  located  just  outside  the 
original  town  plat,  north  of  Lexingtoa 
street.  The  building  is  of  wood,  thirty  by 
forty  feet,  and  will   seat  about  one  hundred 


Round  Prairie  and  Plyviottth.        197 

and  seventy-five  persons.  The  bell  was 
procured  in  1869.  The  parsonage,  located 
•at  the  rear  of  the  church,  was  built  during 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  George  Montgomery, 
whose  term  of  service  commenced  in  the 
iall  of  1854  and  continued  two  years.  This 
is  the  only  church  in  the  place  that  has  a 
parsonage. 

With  the  building  of  the  church  and 
parsonage  Plymouth  was  raised  to  new  im- 
portance as  a  center  of  influence,  and  of 
operations  in  the  general  work  of  the  M.  E. 
Church.  It  was  made  the  headquarters  of 
the  Plymouth  Circuit  in  1853,  and  so  con- 
tinued until  in  1869.  The  appointments 
durinof  this  arrangement  of  the  circuit  were 
so  varied  from  time  to  time  that  we  shall 
not  attempt  to  particularize.  The  nearer 
and  more  permanent  ones  were  at  the  Mt. 
Vernon  School  House,  three  miles  west ;  at 
the  North  School  House,  and  at  the  East 
School  House,  in  the  Twidwell  neighbor- 
hood. About  1862  the  two  former  were 
dropped  for  the  purpose  of  concentrating 
the  work  in  this  vicinity  at  the  center.  Ply- 
mouth Circuit  has  also  embraced  Bowen, 
Chili  Center,  Augusta,  and  other  points. 
During  the  period  included  in  the  history 
of    Plymouth    Circuit,    1853 — 1868-9,    the 


198  A  History  of 

preachers  were  as  follows  :  viz.,  Rev'ds  Will- 
iam M'Elfresh,  George  Montgomery  two 
years,  William  Barton  and  Hughes  same- 
year,  —  Hughes,  —  Rutledge,  John  Kirk- 
patrick  two  years,  Jacob  Shunk  two  years,. 
^  Sennock  two  years,  —  Hughes,  D.  H,. 
Hatton,  William  Avery,  —  Hungerford. 

For  the  next  three  years,  1869-70— 1871 
-2,  Plymouth  was   placed   upon  the  Bowen 
Circuit,  with  the  following   preachers :    viz. 
Rev.  Thomas  C.  Wolf,  who  died  soon  after 
his    location    here;    the    remainder  of   that 
conference  year  the  church  was  supplied  by.. 
Rev.  C.  Powell   and    Rev.  J.  K.  Miller,  both 
of  Bowen  ;    the   following  year   Rev.  J.   K. 
Miller  was  the  preacher  in  charge,  he  being 
succeeded,   the    next   year,    by    Rev.   A.    G 
Smith. 

In.  1872  Plymouth  was  made  a  station, 
and  Rev.  —  Bardrick  was  sent  to  fill  the 
appointment.  By  some  mishap,  there  was 
a  slip  or  a  break  in  some  of  the  machinery 
connecting  the  conference  with  the  church, 
so  that  Mr.  Bardrick  made  but  a  short  stay. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  David  Teed,  a 
talented  but  eccentric  man,  who  had  but 
indifferent  success  in  mendinor  the  machin- 
ery,  but  staid  his  time  out,  dividing  a  consid- 
erable share  of  it,  however,  between  the  M, 
E.  and  Congregational  churches. 


Ro2ind  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        19c 

In  1873  Plymouth  was  again  placed  in 
Bowen  Circuit,  Rev.  C.  Powell  preacher  in 
charge. 

In  1874  it  was  again  made  a  station,  under 
Rev.  James   H.  Dickens,  pastor,  and   so  re- 
mains for  the  year  1875-6,  Rev.  R.  G.  Hobbs,, 
pastor. 

The  membership  of  this  church  is  now 
one  hundred  and  nine. 

The  Congregational  and  Presbyterian 
Churches.  We  have  traced  the  history  of 
these  two  organizations,  already,  up  to  the 
close  of  Rev.  Milton  Kimball's  labors  in 
1850.  As  we  have  previously  stated,  during 
his  ministry  the  two  societies  worshiped  to- 
gether in  the  Conorreg^ational  Church,  and 
united  in  Mr.  Kimball's  support.  This  joint 
arrangement  continued  until  1854.  Rev. 
John  G.  Rankin  supplied  the  churches  for  a 
few  months  during  the  winter  of  1850-51. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mr.  Leonard,  an- 
Evangelist,  who  labored  here  during  the 
summer  of  1851,  His  labors  resulted  in  a 
general  revival  that  reached  all  classes,  and 
resulted  in  accessions  to  all  the  churches 
then  organized  in  this  vicinity. 

During  the  years  1852  and  1853  —  the  re- 
maining period  of  the  joint  arrangement  — 
Rev.  N.  P.  Coltrin  supplied  the  societies 
with  preaching.     From  this  period  the  his- 


200  A  History  of 

tory  of  the  two  societies  diverge.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Coltrin  remained  pastor  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church. 

The  7iew  binlding  for  this  church  was  put 
up  in  1854,  on  lots  i  and  2,  block  8,  Bell, 
Rook  &  Johnson's  addition,  corner  of  East 
Main  and  Church  streets,  fronting  on 
Church.  The  elevated  location  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  and  of  the  school  build- 
ing on  the  opposite  side  of  Church  street, 
together  with  their  comparative  isolation 
from  other  buildings,  makes  them  by  far  the 
most  prominent  buildings  to  be  seen  in  ap- 
proaching the  town  from  nearly  all  direc- 
tions, except  from  the  west.  The  building 
is  a  neat  frame,  35  by  60  feet,  surmounted 
with  a  belfry,  and  having  a  bell  from  Me- 
neely 's  foundry,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

The  seating  capacity  of  the  audience  room 
is  about  two  hundred  and  seventy  persons, 
with  a  gallery  that  will  furnish  accommoda- 
tions for  about  thirty  more  :  total  seating 
capacity,  say  three  hundred  persons.  Rev. 
N.  P.  Coltrin's  labors  as  pastor  of  the  church 
closed  in  August,  1857.  Rev.  William  B. 
Atkinson  succeeded  in  January,  1858,  and 
remained  until  January,  1861. 

In  June,  1861,  Rev.  William  A.  Chamber- 
lin  commenced  his  pastoral  labors  with  the 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       201 

■church,  and  continued  until  November,  1864. 
During  the  last  year  of  his  ministry  here,  the 
Presbyterian  Church  united  with  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  his  support,  the  ser- 
vices beino-  held  on  alternate  Sabbaths  at 
each  house  of  worship.  In  June,  1865,  Rev. 
J.  D.  Parker  commenced  his  labors  as  pastor 
-of  the  church,  and  remained  about  one  year. 
He  was  succeeded  in  October,  1866,  by  Rev. 
C.  M.  Barnes,  who   remained  until  January, 

1869.  In  April,  1869,  Rev.  H.  B.  Swift  came 
to  Plymouth  as  a  candidate  for  the  pulpit  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  but  was  employed 
-by  the  two  societies  jointly  for  one  year,  ser- 
vices beincr  held  in  the  two  houses  of  wor- 
•ship  alternately,  six  mdnths  in  each.  Rev. 
A.  E.  Arnold  succeeded  Mr.  Swift  in  April, 

1870.  Under  his  ministry  the  joint  arrange- 
ment of  the  two  churches  continued  for 
one  year,  Rev.  Mr.  Arnold  remaining  as  pas- 
tor of  the  Cono-reo-ational  Church  until  No- 
vember,  1873.  At  the  close  of  his  ministry 
here,  Rev.  J.  D.  Baker,  the  present  incum- 
bent, commenced  his  pastoral  labors. 

There  have  been,  in  connection  with  this 
•church  since  its  organization,  two  hundred 
and  eighty  (280)  persons.  Of  this  number, 
one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  (137)  have 
.been  dismissed  by  letter.  Thirty-one  (31) 
14 


202  A  History  of 

have  removed  without  letters.  Thirty-tvva- 
(32)  have  died,  and  three  (3)  have  been 
suspended.  Total  dismissals,  etc.,  two  hun- 
dred and  three  (203).  Present  resident 
membership,  seventy-seven  {j"]). 

The  Presbyterian  Church,  after  a  seven- 
years  stay  in  its  place  of  birth,  Plymouth, 
without  a  home  of  its  own,  and  a  ten-years 
residence  abroad  with  its  sister,  the  Congre- 
gational Church  of  Round  Prairie,  deter- 
mined to  return  to  its  native  place  and  set 
up  house-keeping  for  itself. 

The  first  step  taken  towards  securing  a 
home  in  Plymouth,  was  made  January  loth, 
1854,  in  the  election  of  a  board  of  trustees,, 
who  proceeded  at  once  to  secure  a  site  and 
make  arrano^ements  for  building.  The  site 
includes  lots  i  and  2,  block  17,  corner  of 
West  Main  and  Lexinorton  streets.  The 
building,  a  substantial  frame,  34  by  54  feet, 
with  belfry,  was  put  up  in  1854,  but  not  so 
far  completed  as  to  be  fit  for  use  until  1857, 
when  it  was  opened  for  worship,  but  in  an 
unfinished  state.  In  1869  the  outside  ap- 
pearance of  the  bililding,  which  at  that  time 
would  compare  favorably  with  churches 
generally  in  small  country  towns,  was  sacri- 
ficed for  the  purpose  of  securing  greater 
internal  convenience.     The  belfry  was  taken 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       203 

down  and  an  addition  of  twenty  feet  made 
at  the  east  end  of  the  building,  and  the  en- 
trance changed  to  the  south  side,  at  the  in- 
tersection of  the  addition  with  the  old  part 
of  the  building.  This  addition  furnishes, 
convenient  infant  class  and  library  rooms 
on  the  ground  floor,  which  are  so  arranged 
as  to  be  readily  thrown  open  to  the  main 
audience  room  —  adding  about  two-fifths  to 
the  capacity  of  the  building  when  necessary 
to  accommodate  increased  numbers.  Above 
these  two  rooms  is  a  convenient  lecture 
room,  arranged  to  accommodate  about 
seventy-five  persons.  The  audience  room, 
as  now  seated,  will  accommodate  about  two 
hundred  and  forty  persons. 

The  building  is  still  incomplete,  the  plan 
contemplating  the  erection  of  a  tower  and 
belfry  on  the  north  side,  directly  opposite 
the  present  entrance.  Through  this  tower 
would  be  an  additional  entrance,  greatly 
facilitating  egress  from  the  building  in  an 
emergency. 

During  the  years  1854  and  1855  the 
church  was  supplied  with  preaching  by  the 
Rev.  George  D.  Young,  of  Augusta,  services 
being  held  on  Sabbath  afternoons  at  the 
Methodist  house  of  worship,  the  Presbyte- 
rian house  beincr  then   unfinished.     In  the 


204  A  History  of 

spring  of  1857  Rev.  William  A,  Hendrick- 
son  was  employed  as  stated  supply,  and 
continued  his  labors  here  until  the  fall  of 
1359.  During  the  year  1863  the  church 
was  supplied  once  in  three  weeks  by  Rev.  J. 
L.  Jones,  Presbyterial  missionary.  In  1864, 
under  the  ministerial  labors  of  Rev.  William 
A.  Chamberlin,  union  services  were  held 
with  the  Conorreo^ational  Church  alternateh' 
from  one  house  of  worship  to  the  other  on 
alternate  Sabbaths,  each  society  maintaining 
its  own  Sabbath  school  in  the  mean  time. 
In  1865  Rev.  Isaac  T.  Whittemore  was  em- 
ployed as  stated  supply,  and  remained  with 
the  church  until  the  spring  of  1869.  Im- 
mediately succeeding  his  labors  a  joint 
arrangement  was  ao;ain  made  with  the  Con- 
gregational  Church,  under  Rev.  H.  B.  Swift 
services  beino;  held  for  six  months  at  each 
house  alternately,  and  the  Sabbath  schools 
united  under  one  management.  Rev.  Mr. 
Swift  remained  one  year,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  A.  E.  Arnold,  under  whose  ministry 
the  joint  arrangement  was  continued  until 
March,  1871.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  Rev. 
A.  S.  Powell  supplied  the  church,  remaining 
until  the  next  spring.  In  October,  1872, 
Rev.  W.  F.  Cellar,  the  present  incumbent, 
commenced  his  labors  with  the  church. 


Round  P^'airie  and  Plymouth.       2.05 

The  growth  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  numbers  has  not  been  such  as  would 
have  been  expected  if  it  had  beera  able  ta 
secure  regular  ministerial  services.  There 
have  been  connected  with  it,  since  its  organ- 
ization in  November,  1836,  up  to  July  1st,. 
1875,  in  3-11,  two  hundred  and  forty-five  (245) 
persons.  Of  these  eighty-nine  (89)  have 
been  regularly  dismissed  by  letter,  forty-twO' 
(42)  have  removed  without  letters  of  dismis- 
sion, eighteen  (18)  are  dead,  and  four  (4) 
have  been  subjects  of  trial  and  suspension.. 
Total  dismissals,  etc.,  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  (153),  making  the  present  membership, 
July,  1875,  ninety-two  (92). 

The  Congregation  of  Disciples,  or  Chris- 
tians, in  Plymouth,  was  organized  Februarys 
18,  1855,  the  services  being  held  in  the 
house  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  and  conducted 

» 

by  Elder  J.  R.  Ross. 

The  oritrinal  members  of  the  concrreea- 
tion  were  as  follows :  viz.,  David  Palmer^ 
Susan  Palmer,  John  Ritchey,  Zerelda  Ritch- 
ey,  Jonas  Myers,  Margaret  Myers,  J.  W.. 
Bell,  A.  B.  Moore,  John  Madison,  Rebecca 
Madison,  John  Hendrlckson,  David  Wade,, 
Nancy  Wade,  Edward  Wade,  Ann  Hooton,. 
Wm.  H.  Hooton,  Isapena  Buyher,  Thomp- 
son   Burdett,   Malinda    Burdett,  John  Ades, 


2o6  A  History  of 

Elizabeth  Ades,  Phebe  Ades,  John  Stark, 
Uphema  Myers,  Nancy  Browning,  Sarah 
iMoore,  Frances  Ritchey,  Mary  Ritche)'. 
Total,  twenty-eight  (28). 

Of  these  twelve  (12)  are  still  resident 
members.  Nine  have  died,  four  have  re- 
moved, two  have  been  dismissed  by  letter, 
and  one  excluded. 

The  membership  of  this  society  has  varied 
at  different  periods,  in  numbers,  from  the 
above  original  number  up  to  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  (120)  persons.  The 
number  of  resident  members  is  now  one 
hundred  and  three  (103). 

The  Jiouse  of  worship  belonging  to  this 
society  was  built  in  1866.  It  is  located  on 
the  east  part  of  lot  i,  block  15,  at  the  corner 
of  East  Main  and  Virginia  streets,  fronting 
on  Virginia.  It  is  a  neat,  substantial  frame 
building,  30  by  40  feet,  and  will  seat  two 
hundred  and  ten  (210)  persons. 

The  regular  ministers  have  been  as  fol- 
lows :  viz.,  James  R.  Ross,  H.  Young,  E. 
Browning,  E.  J.  Lampton,  George  Brewster, 
James  Stark,  and  Carroll  Stark  —  the  latter 
being  now  the  preacher. 

The  Baptist  Church  of  Plymouth  was 
organized  January  3d,  1857,  adopting  what 
is    commonly   called    the    New    Hampshire 


Roiind  Prairie  and  Plymoiith.       207 

Confession  of  Faith,  embracino-  all  the  doc- 
trines  peculiar  to  Missionary  Baptists.  This 
church  was  orofanized  with  eio;ht  members  : 
viz.,  Jacob  Elliott,  Sarah  J.  Elliott,  Thomas 
Rockey,  Celia  Rockey,  Caleb  Bickford,  Eliz- 
abeth Bickford,  Emily  Walton,  Margaret 
Cook.  These  are  all  living  (August,  1875). 
Four  of  them  have  removed  —  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Elliott  to  Canton,  Illinois ;  Mr,  and  Mrs. 
Rockey  are  now  in  Bushnell.  Two  of  them, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bickford,  have  changed  their 
church  relations,  still  residing  here,  and  two 
of  the  original  members,  Mrs.  Walton  and 
Mrs.  Cook,  still  remain  in  connection  with 
the  church.  Thomas  Rockey  was  the  first 
deacon  chosen,  and  Jacob  Elliott  the  first 
church  clerk. 

There  have  been  added  to  this  church 
since  its  organization,  up  to  the  present 
time,  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  (235)  per- 
sons. Of  these  seventy-two  (72)  have  been 
•dismissed  by  letter,  twenty-four  (24)  have 
died,  and  thirty-five  (35)  have  been  excluded. 
Total  dismissals,  etc.,  one  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-one (131)  ;  leaving  the  number  now  upon 
the  record  one  hundred  and  four  (104).  Of 
these  twenty-five  (25)  are  now  non-residents. 
The  number  of  actual  resident  members, 
therefore,  at  this  time,  is  seventy-nine  (79). 


2o8  A  History  of 

Rev.  Joseph  Botts,  of  St.  Mary's,  was  the 
first  pastor  of  this  church,  commencing  his 
labors  in  May,  1857.  He  was  succeeded  in 
October  of  the  same  year  by  Rev.  Caleb 
Davison.  He  in  turn  was  succeeded  in  De- 
cember, 1858,  by  Rev.  D.  W.  Litchfield. 
Rev.  R.  L.  Colwell  commenced  his  labors  in 
June,  i860,  and  in  November,  1865  the  pres- 
ent incumbent,  Rev.  L.  Osborn,  took  charge 
of  the  church.  His  pastorate  extending  now 
over  nearly  ten  years,  is  longer  than  that  of 
any  other  minister  who  has  served  any  of 
the  various  churches  in  Plymouth  during  its. 
entire  past  history. 

The  JioiLse  of  zvorship  of  the  Baptist 
Church  was  built  in  1857.  It  is  a  plain 
brick  building,  26  by  40  feet,  located  on  lot 
7,  block  14,  upon  Summer  street,  between. 
Virginia  and  Union  streets.  It  has  seating 
room  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons. 

The  United  Brethren  i)i  Christ.  This 
society  was  organized  in  March,  1857,  by 
Rev.  G.  K.  Jackson,  pastor,  and  was  desig- 
nated at  that  time  as  Plymouth  Mission. 
The  following  were  the  oriorinal  members  : 
viz.,  Josiah  Morris,  Martha  Morris,  B.  W. 
Whittington,  Thomas  Twidwell,  Thomas 
Kennedy,   M.  A.    Kennedy,    Reuben   Cecil,. 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply  month.       209 

Frances  Cecil,  A.  K.  Twidwell,  M.  A.  Twid- 
well,  Mary  Twidwell,  Mary  Dorothy. 

Of  these  twelve  four  still   remain  in  con- 
nection with  the  society:  viz.,  Thomas  Twid- 
well, M.  A.  Kennedy,  Reuben  Cecil,  Frances- 
Cecil. 

There  have  been  in  connection  with  this 
society  since  its  organization  seventy-one 
(71)  persons.  Of  these  six  (6)  have  been 
dismissed  by  letter,  seventeen  (17)  have  re- 
moved, fifteen  (15)  have  been  dropped  from 
the  roll  of  membership,  and  eight  (^8)  have 
died.  Total  dismissions,  etc.,  forty-six  (46).. 
Present  membership,  twenty-five  (25). 

Lamoin  Chapel,  as  the  house  of  worship 
for  this  society  is  called,  was  built  in  1872.- 
It  is  a  frame  building,  28  by  36  feet,  and  is 
located  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  twenty-one,  Lamoin 
township,  three  miles  east  and  a  mile  and  a 
half  north  from  Plymouth. 

The  Sunday  School  History  of  this  com- 
munity has  been  traced  up  to  1850.  The 
following  year  a  Sunday  school  was  organ- 
ized and  continued  through  the  summer  and 
early  fall  at  the  North  School  House,  then 
one  of  the  regular  preaching  stations  of  the 
M.    E.   Church.       This   was   continued    two- 


2IO  A  Histoi'y  of 

seasons  ;  the  first,  in  charge  of  E.  H.  Young, 
superintendent ;  the  second,  in  charge  of 
Ezra  Adkins,  superintendent.  Then  for 
some  years  the  effort  to  maintain  a  Sunday 
school  at  that  point  was  abandoned.  There 
has  since  been  a  Sunday  school  at  that  place 
for  a  few  years,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Thomas  Brakefield  and  A.  W.  King. 
These  persons,  upon  whom  the  maintain- 
ance  of  a  school  there  must  depend  if  it 
were  kept  up,  are  actively  engaged  in  their 
church  schools  in  town,  and  not  only  find 
their  time  limited  for  such  service,  but  be- 
lieve that  the  interests  of  those  who  have 
attended  at  the  North  School  House  would 
be  better  served  by  their  attendance  upon 
some  of  the  various  church  schools  in  town. 
For  a  number  of  years  following  the  Mcr- 
mon  occupation  of  Plymouth  there  was  no 
Sunday  school  in  town.  After  the  building 
of  the  school  house  in  1851,  some  of  the 
citizens  interested  themselves  in  having  one 
organized.  This  was  done  in  the  spring  of 
1852.  From  this  point  dates  the  permanent 
and  continuous  establishment  of  the  Sunday 
school  work  in  Plyrnouth,  For  two  years 
this  school  was  continued  in  the  school 
house,  and   then,  on  the   completion   of  the  ' 


Round  Prairie  and  PlymoiitJi.       2 1 1 

M.  E.  Church,  It  was  transferred  to  that 
house,  and  continued  for  a  time  as  a  union 
school  —  the  basis  on  which  it  was  organized. 
E.  H.  Young  was  superintendent  of  the 
school  from  its  organization  until  the  field 
began  to  widen  out  by  the  establishment  of 
church  schools.  Of  these  we  think  it  unnec- 
essary to  give  a  detailed  history,  as  the  his- 
tory of  the  various  churches  already  given, 
furnishes  data  sufficiently  accurate  for  our 
purpose.  We  may  state  that  the  building 
of  each  church  in  the  place  has  been  follow- 
-ed  by  the  establishment  of  a  Sunday  school 
in  connection  with  It. 

A  few  general  facts  showing  the  present 
status  of  these  various  schools  may  not  be 
out  of  place.  We  give,  in  round  numbers, 
what  may  be  considered  a  general  average 
of  the  attendance  upon  the  various  Sunday 
■schools,  say  for  the  past  five  years  : 

TEACHERS   AND    OFFICERS.       PUPII.S.  TOTAL. 

M.  E.  Sunday  School 9  56  65 

Congi-egational  Sunday  School,  12  63  75 

Presbyterian  Sunday  School,  .  .  12  73  ^85 

Baptist  Sunday  School,   6  34  40 

Disciples  Sunday  School, 6  59  65 

Total,     45  2S5  330 

We  also  subjoin  a  summary  of  the  accom- 
modations provided  for  church  goers,  and 
.the  number  of  resident  church  members,  in 


2  12  A   History  of 

each  of  the  churches   in  town,  as  follows 
v\z. — • 

ACCOMMODATIONS.      MEMBERSHIP. 

M.  E.  Church 175  109 

Congregational 270  77 

Presbyterian 240  92 

Baptist 150  •              79       • 

Disciples 210  103 

Total,     1045  460 


CHAPTER    XV. 

T/ie  record  of  the  patriotism  of  Round 
Prairie  is  well  worthy  of  being  perpetuated 
in  the  pages  of  history.  It  has  other  endur- 
ing monuments  as  well  :  they  are  written 
deeply  in  the  hearts  of  many  that  occupy 
the  desolated  homes  that  clot  here  and  there- 
our  fair  prairie  and  town. 

We  have  in  our  midst  a  few  of  the  Sitrvi- 
vors  of  the  War  of  1812-1  ^,  Of  these 
there  is  one  whose  case  may  be  fairly  put 
in  a  way  to  present  a  singular  double  par- 
adoj^.  The  first  paradoxical  proposition 
concerning  him  is,  that,  while  the  official 
records  of  the  war  department  recognize 
his  services  as  a  soldier,  yet  he  never  was  in 
the  army.  The  second  is,  that,  while  he  is 
now  an  actual  living  resident  of  our  town, 
and  has  been  a  resident  of  our  community 


Round  Prairie  and  PlymoiUh.       2  i 


o 


for  more  than  forty  years  past,  the  same 
authentic  documents  of  the  war  department 
prove  that  he  has  been  dead  for  more  than 
sixty  years.  The  man  of  whom  we  thus 
write  is  Francis  Kington,  who  was  born  in 
the  State  of  Virginia,  July  4th,  1788.  On 
the  breakine  out  of  the  war  of  18 12  he  was 
a  member  of  a  volunteer  military  company 
that  was  called  into  active  service.  At  this 
time  Mr.  Kington  was  encumbered  with  the 
cares  of  a  family  consisting-  then  of  a  wife 
and  two  children.  A  younger  brother,  James 
Kington,  volunteered  to  go  in  his  place,  and 
entered  the  service  as  a  substitute  for,  and 
answered  to  the  name  of  Francis  Kington 
while  in  the  service.  In  1814  James  King- 
ton died  in  the  service,  known  to  the  depart- 
ment only  as  Francis  Kington. 

[This  explanation  of  a  seeming  mystery 
illustrates,  it  seems  to  us,  very  clearly,  an 
important  doctrine  of  the  Christian  religion 
that  many  find  it  hard  to  accept :  viz.,  That 
through  the  service  of  suffering  and  death, 
rendered  by  Christ,  his  people  live.  He  is 
their  substitute.  He  stands  ready  to  render 
this  service  to  all  who  will  accept  it.  Reader, 
have  you  accepted  him  as  your  substitute.'^] 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  date  of  Mr.  King- 
ton's birth,  that  he  is  now  in  his  88th  year  — 


2  14  ^  History  of 

the  oldest  person  in  our  community.  Until 
within  the  last  year  he  has  been  seen  almost 
daily  upon  our  streets,  but  is  now  too  feeble 
to  walk  beyond  the  limits  of  the  yard  sur- 
rounding his  home. 

Edward  IVade  wa.s  born  in  Halifax  Coun- 
ty, Virginia,  October  7th,  1792.  He  enlisted 
in  the  regular  army  at  Clarksville,  Tennes- 
see, in  1 81 2,  for  five  years.  He  served  with 
General  Jackson  during  the  war  of  181 2-1 5,, 
being  engaged  in  the  short  but  decisive 
campaign  about  New  Orleans,  the  final  bat- 
tle of  which  virtually  closed  the  war. 

In  the  Indian  difficulties  at  the  South^ 
after  the  close  of  the  war  of  181 2-1 5,  Jack- 
son's forces  were  volunteers,  and  Mr.  Wade 
being  a  "  regular,"  was  engaged  with  his 
comrades  in  the  more  peaceful  avocation 
of  buildinor  a  so-called  national  road  from 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  to  Muscle  Shoals,  Ala- 
bama. 

At  this  date  —  October,  1875  —  Mr.  Wade 
has  just  passed  his  83d  birth-day,  and  still 
manifests  a  good  degree  of  physical  vigor. 

From  the  previous  notice  of  Mr.  Wade's- 
settlement  on  Round  Prairie  it  will  be  seen 
that  he  has  been  a  resident  here  for  more 
than  forty  years. 

Roland   T.  Madison  was    born   near  the 


Round  Praii^ie  and  Plymoiitli.       2  1 5, 

present   city  of  Bowling   Green,   Kentucky,. 
February  24th,  1794. 

In  the  war  of  18 12-15  he  entered  the  ser- 
vice as  a  volunteer  in  Colonel  Richard  H. 
Johnson's  cavalry  regiment  —  three  months 
men.  He  was  discharged  on  account  of 
sickness,  and  sent  home  before  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  service,  but  re-enlisted 
for  six  months  in  Captain  Peter  Dudley's 
company,  Boswell's  regiment ;  was  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  Meigs,  near  Toledo,  Ohio,, 
then  a  wilderness  ;  afterwards  with  General 
Harrison  in  his  campaign  in  Canada.  On 
his  return  he  was  appointed  an  ensign  in  the 
28th  United  States  infantry,  under  Colonel 
T.  D.  Owen,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant  in  the  same 
command. 

Mr.  Madison  settled  in  Ohio  in  1827; 
moved  to  Illinois  in  1836,  stopping  in  Schuy- 
ler County  until  1840,  when  he  bought  and 
settled  upon  the  place  where  he  now  lives,, 
at  Plymouth. 

The  title  of "  Captaml'  so  generally  be- 
stowed upon  Mr.  Madison  by  his  neighbors, 
is  "  within  one  "  of  being  correct  in  a  military 
point  of  view,  but  it  originated  from  his  com- 
mand of  a  flat-boat  upon  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi rivers. 


:2i6  A  History  of 

THE    BLACK    HAWK    AND    TEXAN    WARS, 

Major  yosepli  F.  Garrett  was  born  in  Ca- 
bell County,  Virginia,  November  iSth,  1808, 
:and  emigrated  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  in 
1828.  In  the  spring  of  1832,  he  volunteered 
in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  under  Captain  Daw- 
son, he  and  Abraham  Lincoln  entering  the 
same  company  as  privates. 

Though  not  in  any  battle  in  this  cam- 
paign, he  was  so  near  the  scene  of  Stillman's 
defeat,  east  of  Dixon,  that  he  was  in  the  de- 
tail that  buried  the  dead  the  following  day. 

This  expedition  being  made  up  of  thirty- 
da)^  troops,  when  the  term  of  service  expired. 
Major  Garrett  re-enlisted,  and  was  in  till  the 
close  of  the  war. 

In  1838  Major  Garrett  emigrated  to 
Texas,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching  school 
for  some  time.  In  September,  1839,  he  vol- 
unteered in  an  expedition  against  the  In- 
dians, under  Colonel  James  C.  Neill.  Here 
he  obtained  a  commission  as  purchasing  and 
subsisting  commissary,  with  rank  and  pay 
as  major.  This  expedition  was  engaged  in 
two  battles  with  marauding  bands  of  Indians, 
in  which  Major  Garrett  left  his  position  with 
the  supplies  in  other  hands  and  went  into 
the  fight,  like  Pat,  for  "a  bit  of  sport."     In 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply  month.       2  i  7 

the  first  of  these  battles,  on  the  Brasos  river, 
without  loss  on  their  part,  they  killed  and 
captured  about  sixty  Indians.  In  the  second 
battle,  on  the  southwest  fork  of  Trinity  river, 
although  their  loss  was  slight,  it  included 
two  valuable  officers  :  one  of  them  Major 
Wepler,  a  German,  who  had  been  a  captain 
in  Bonaparte's  army,  and  had  fought  with 
Wellington's  forces  at  Waterloo. 

In  March,  1S40,  the  troops  of  this  expedi- 
tion were  discharged.  In  June  following. 
Major  Garrett  again  volunteered  in  another 
similar  expedition  —  this  time  as  a  substitute 
for  J.  R.  Baker,  who  was  the  first  county 
clerk  of  McDonnough  County,  Illinois. 
Here  he  was  again  commissioned  to  the 
same,  office  and  rank  as  in  the  previous  ex- 
pedition. This  campaign  lasted  but  one 
month,  at  the  expiration  of  which  Major 
Garrett  resumed  his  occupation  as  school 
teacher.  Pie  returned  to  Illinois  something 
over  twenty-five  years  ago,  where^  he  has 
since  resided,  most  of  the  time  in  Plymouth. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  the 
Major's  war  spirit  was  again  aroused  ;  and 
although  over  fifty  years  old  at  that  time, 
he  had  his  gray  hair  colored  so  black  that 
his  nearest  neighbor  failed  to  recognize  him, 
and  presented  himself  for  examination.    The 

IS 


2i8  A  History  of 

inexorable  old  army  surgeon  told  him  "  it 
was  a  pity  to  repress  such  pluck,  but  with 
such  dilapidated  teeth  as  he  had,  he  would 
starve  to  death  on  hard-tack,  and  therefore 
it  would  not  do  to  pass  him." 

THE    MORMON    WAR. 

As  numerous  as  were  the  heroes  of  the 
times  embraced  in  the  period  Df  the  Mor- 
mon war,  we  must  decline  the  task  of 
recording  their  brilliant  exploits,  mainly 
for  the  follov/ing  reasons:  ist.  We  have 
already  given  as  much  space  to  the  sub- 
ject of  Mormonism  as  our  limits  will  jus- 
tify. 2d.  The  subject  needs  for  its  proper 
elucidation  numerous  illustrations  which  we 
cannot  afford  in  this  work.  The  necessity 
for  pictorial  illustration  we  think  will  be  ap- 
parent by  reference  to  Jim's  story,  in  which 
three  horsemen  captured  a  town,  and  the 
blue-stocking  war,  in  our  chapter  on  Mor- 
monismr  3d.  The  subject  requires  a  volume 
in  itself,  as  those  who  went  from  Round 
Prairie,  not  having  any  regular  military  or- 
ganization, would  each  require  a  personal 
history  of  service  in  various  campaigns  in 
which  each  enlisted  when  he  felt  like  it,  staid 
until  he  got  military  glory  enough,  and  then 
gave  himself  an  honorable  discharge. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       219 

THE    MEXICAN    WAR. 

Round  Prairie  had  but  two  representa- 
tives in  this  war :  These  were  Richard 
Landsden  and  James  M.  Garden,  both  of 
Birmingham,  and  both  now  deceased. 

THE    WAR    OF    THE    REBELLION. 

In  making  up  the  record  of  those  from  this 
vicinity  engaged  in  the  war,  we  extend  our 
territorial  limits  somevdiat  so  as  to  include 
neighborhoods  immediately  adjoining  Round 
Prairie,  and  of  which  Plymouth  is  the  busi- 
ness center.  The  men  from  these  neigh- 
borhoods and  ours,  shared  together  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  the  war,  and  their  names 
should  appear  together  in  any  records  that 
may  be  made  of  their  services. 

The  time  of  enlistments  from  this  vicinity 
extended  through  nearly  the  whole  period 
of  the  war,  and  some  of  those  latest  in  the 
service  will  be  found  in  regiments  that  were 
among  those  earliest  formed,  being  recruited 
to  fill  up  ranks  broken  by  the  war. 

Our  community  was  represented  in  about 
twenty-five  different  regiments,  as  follows  : 
viz. — 

Twelfth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Organized  as  a  Three  Years  Regim:nt  at  Cairo,  August  ist,  1861^ 

Substitute  Recruits  mustered  in,  October,  1864.     Augustus  Gar- 
rett, Andrew  J.  Hattery,  J.  Marshall  Ralston,  Silas  J.  James. 

The  I2th  was  at  Donelson,  Corinth,  and  with  Sherman  on  hi& 


2  20  A  History  of 

•march  to  the  sea,  Our  recruits  were  sent  from  Camp  Butler, 
via.  Nashville  and  Baltimore,  and  joined  the  regiment  under 
Sherman  at  Raleigh',  North  Carolina. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and 
received  final  discharge  and  pay  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  July, 
1865. 

Fourteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Organized  May,  1S61,  at  yacksonville,  Illinois. 

Alonzo  Bickford,  Company  E,  mustered  in,  1S61. 

The  regiment  was  re-organized  at  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina, 
in  April,  1865,  and  the  following  recruits  sent  from  here  : 

Cornelius  Decker,  Albert  Palmer ;  Samuel  H.  Ridgeway,  ab- 
sent, sick  at  muster  out ;  Matthew  Trammel,  mustered  out  as 
Corp.;  Samuel  Wade,  mustered  out  as  corp. 

The  14th  was  mustered  out  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and 
received  final  pay  and  discharge  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  Septem- 
ber 22d,   1S65. 

Sixteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 
Organized  at  Quincy,  May  2^th,  1861. 

James  H.  Ralston,  transferred  to  60th  Illinois  January,  1864  ; 
John  N.  Smith,  transferred  td  Goth  Illinois,  January,  1S64  ;  John 
W.  Johnson;  Joseph  Shannon,  wagoner,  re-enlisted  as  veteran  ; 
S.  C.  Gilbert,  discharged,  disability,  re-enlisted,  ist  Colorado 
cavalry  ;  A.  J.  Duncan  ;    Benjamin  F.  Hendricks,  died  at  Bird's 

Point, 1S62  ;  William  Markley,  John  Scott ; Johnson, 

of  Lamoin  ; Johnson,  of  Lamoin. 

The  i6th  was  sent  first  into  Missouri,  was  at  Corinth,  and  af- 
terward at  Nashville.  Their  later  service  was  mainly  guard  and 
garrison  duty. 

Mustered  out  at  Louisville,  Kentucky ;  discharged  at  Camp 
Butler,  Illinois. 

Eighteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Organized,  May,  1S61.      Re-organized. 

John  Bodenhamer,  mustered  in,  March  gth,  1865.  Mustered 
out  as  Corp.,  December  i6th,  1865  ;    Isham  Sell. 

This  regiment  was  at  Donelson  and  Shiloh,  and  afterwards  in 
Arkansas.  Mustered  out  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas  ;  discharged 
at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois. 

Twenty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Organizea  at  Camp  Butler,  August,  1861,  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  L. 

H.    Waters. 

Simeon  E.  Botts,  died  at  home  ;  Sidney  W.  Botts,  discharged 
December,  1S62  —  disability;  Richard  A.  Dawson,  discharged 
June,  1862  —  disability;    Nathan    Graham,  died  at  Fort   Holt, 


RoiLiid  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        221 

Kentucky,  December  ist,  iS6r  ;  Robert  Huddleston,  wounded, 
sent  to  hospital  —  since  missing;  Edward  Livermore,  term  ex- 
pired August  26tli,  1S64;  Haley  F.  Sell,  died  at  Fort  Holt,  Ken- 
tucky, January  i6tli,  1862. 

Regiment  consolidated  in  1S64.  The  following  substitute  re- 
cruits were  sent  to  the  regiment  October,  1S64 ; 

James  C.  Howell,  corp.,  killed  at  Spanish  Fort,  Alabama, 
March  16,  iS()5  :  Elbridge  M.  Cox,  William  L.  Hendrickson, 
Chalmers  Hall ;  Hiram  L.  Michael,  died  at  Brownsville,  Texas, 
September  20th,  1S65  ;  J.  Hardin  Smith. 

The  2Sth  regiment  was  at  Corinth,  Vicksburg,  Jackson,  and  at 
various  points  in  Alabama,  Louisiana  and  Texas  —  saw  hard 
service  ;  came  near  shipwreck  on  the  Gulf  of  Mdxico  in  their 
transfer  fro^i  New  Orleans  to  the  siege  of  Spanish  Fort  —  threw 
130  mules  overboard  in  order  to  save  the  vessel. 

Thirty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Organized   September,  1S61. 

Unassigned  Substitute  Recruits.  Joseph  D.  Garrett,  recruited 
March  3th,  1S65,  mustered  out  May  14th,  1865. 

Service  of  the  regiment,  in  Kenuicky  and  Tennessee.  Mus- 
tered out  at  Louisville,  and  discharged  at  Chicago,  July  l6th, 
1S65. 

Forty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry. 
Ccnsolidated. 

Substitute  Recruits.  William  H.  Hisel,  recruited  October  25th, 
1S64 ;  Thomas  Kennedy,  recruited  March  Qth,  1865,  died  at 
Camp  Butler,  March  2Sth,  1S65  ;  Reuben  Cecil,  recruited  March 
9th,  1865;  William  Lung,  recruited  March  gth,  1S65  ;  Joseph 
Pestil,  recruited  March  25lh,  1865. 

The  three  latter  joined  the  regiment  at  Spanish  Fort,  but 
were  not  in  the  fight ;  saw  no  severe  service.  Mustered  out, 
January  2ist,  1S66,  at  Selma,  Alabama,  and  sent  to  Springfield 
for  pay  and  discharge. 

Fifty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry. 

Organized  at   Chicago,  Dec,  1S61 . 

William  S.  Hendricks,  promoted  from  16th  Illinois,  2d  lieuten- 
ant, resigned  February  13th,  1S63  ;  Edward  D.  Haggard,  ser- 
geant, ]5romoted  2d  lieutenant  February,  1S63,  1st  lieutenant 
July,  1S64,  captain  July,  1S65  —  not  mustered  —  mustered  out  as 
1st  lieutenant ;  James  W.  Madison,  corp.,  discharged  June,  1862; 
George  Madison,  musician,  promoted  principal  musician  56th 
Illinois  Infantry,  August,  1S62 ;  Matthias  M.  Hendrickson, 
killed  at  Shiloh  April  6th.  1862;  John  W.  Hamilton,  re-enlisted 
as  veteran,  oat  as  serijeant  ;  .Austin  B.  Lynch,  re-enlisted  as 
veteran;  David  Moore;    Henry  H.  Ross,  discharged  April,  1862; 


2  22  A  History  of 

Robert  H.  Stark,  captured  in  South  Carolina  February  22d,  1865, 
killed;  Henry  Smith,  John  F.Thomas;  Francis  M.  Way,  dis- 
charged February,  1864  —  disability. 

Recruits.  Edward  F.  Kington,  October,  1862  ;  William 
Brown,  James  Patterson,  Henry  Mikesell,  A.  J.  Polite  ;  Philip 
Long,  January,  1862,  discharged  April,  1862  ;  Dallas  Cox,  Janu- 
ary, 1862  ;  Elijah  Clair,  January,  1862  ;  Lewis  Gillenwater,  Janu- 
ary, 1862;  George  Boman,  February,  1864;  Isaac  Boman,  Feb- 
ruary, 1864 ;  James  C.  Bickford,  February,  1864 ;  Edwin  L. 
Garvin,  February,  1S64  ;  Bartoe  Patterson,  March,  1864;  Will- 
iam T.  Lawrence,  March,  1S64,  died  at  Athens,  Alabama,  April 
3d,  1864. 

This  regiment  was  in  the  battle  at  Fort  Donelson,  February 
13th,  14th,  15th.  1862;  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  April  6th.  7th; 
siege  of  Corinth,  May,  1S62  ;  battle  of  Corinth,  October  3d  4th, 
1S62.  Mustered  out  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  discharged  at 
•Chicago,  July  glh,  1865. 


Fifty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Consolidated  yanuary  2jd,  iSb^. 

Wesley  Ralston,  recruited  March  21st,  1865  ;  Paris  Smith, 
recruited  March  21st,  1865. 

Mustered  out  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  April  ist,  1866  ;  dis- 
charged at  Springfield,  Illinois. 

Sixty-second  Illinois  Infantry. 

Re-orgaiiized  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  April  24th,  186^. 

Nicholas  S.  Comberlidge,  recruited  as  veteran;  Aaron  Downie, 
died  at  Frederick,  Illinois,  January  27th,  1863  ;  John  Freaks, 
discharged  September  8th,  1862 — disability;  David  Stoneking, 
discharged  April  23d,  18C3  —  disability;  Samuel  Stoneking, 
transferred  to  invalid  corps. 

All  the  above  enlisted  in  the  original  organization  of  the  62d, 
April  loth,  1862.  As  re-organized,  were  on  duty  at  Pine  Bluff 
and  at  Fort  Gibson.  Mustered  out  at  Little  Rock,  March  6th, 
1866  ;  discharged  at  Springfield,  Illinois. 

Seventy-first  Illinois   Infantry. 

Three  Months  Men.     Organized  at  Chicago. 

Ralph  W.Clark,  Joseph  H.  Fortner,  Benjamin  E.  Orr,  Joseph 
W.  Tillson,  Alfred  B.  Talbot,  Benjamin  Bickford, 

Mainly  on  guard  duty  in  Kentucky. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       223 

Seventy-second  Illinois  Infantry. 

Organized  at  Chicago,  August  2^d,  1S62,  as  the  ist  Board  of  Trade 

Regiment. 

James  A.  Bingham,  2d  lieutenant,  promoted  1st  lieutenant 
January  2Sth,  1863,  killed  at  Vicksburg  May  22d.  1863  ;  Edward 
H.  Burton,  Discharged  May  28th,  1864,  for  promotion  in  52d 
Col.  Infantry;  Andrew  Cook,  discharged  July  I2th,  1864,  for 
promotion  in  58th  Col.  Infantry  ;  George  W.  Capron,  Henry  A. 
Cecil,  Joshua  Hedgecock  ;  Garrett  J.  D.  Jarvis,  discharged  April 
.8th,  1864,  for  promotion  50th  Col.  Infantry  ;  John  J.  Myers,  died 
in  Yazoo  Pass,  .March  i6th,  1S63  ;  George  W.  McDaniel,  An- 
drew J.  Massengill,  William  H.  McDaniel  ;  Peter  Morehead, 
mustered  out  as  corporal ;  Henry  G.  Miller  ;  John  W.  Royce,  died 
.at  Columbus,  Kentucky,  October  2ist,  1862  ;  Lewis  J.  Spurlock, 
Marcena  Smith  ;  George  W.  Milton,  corporal,  mustered  out  as 
private  ;  Harmon  F.  Morris,  died  at  Paducah,  Kentucky,  Octo- 
ber gth,  1862;  Richard  Lansden,  died  at  St.  Louis,  July  22d, 
1863;  John  L.  Madison,  discharged  February  13th,  1863  —  dis- 
ability; Peter  Peters,  died  at  Selma,  Alabama,  July  26th,  1865  ; 
■George  W.  Loop,  recruit,  transferred  to  33d  Infantry  ;  John 
Pennock,  recruit. 

The  72d  was  with  Grant  at  Vicksburg,  at  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, and  others  in  Tennessee,  at  Spanish  Fort.  Alabama,  etc.; 
"was  in  seven  battles  and  eleven  skirmishes  ;  traveled  9,280  miles 
.in  the  service,  and  under  fire  one  hundred  and  forty-five  days. 
Mustered  out  at  Vicksburg,  August  Gth,  1S65. 

Seventy-eighth  Illinois  Infantry. 
Organized  at  Qitincy,  Sept.  ist,  1S62. 

Company  A.  William  S.  Hendricks,  sergeant-major,  March 
:28tli,  1864  —  discharged  January  17,  1865 — wounds;  Henry  C. 
Bodenhamer;  James  E.  Belote,  killed  at  Chickamauga,  Septem- 
ber 20th,  1863;  Darwin  Belote,  died  at  Franklin,  Tennessee, 
March  5th,  1863  ;  Robert  Driver,  died  at  Franklin,  Tennessee, 
February  19th,  1863  ;  Benjamin  Davis,  died  at  Chattanooga,  Oc- 
t.)!)i,  r  7th,  1S63  —  wounds;  John  Davis,  died  at  Nashville,  March 
i8t!i.  1863;  Shepard  Graham,  died  at  Franklin,  March  28th, 
lS()3  ;  James  M.  Groves,  John  Howell,  George  Harrison  ;  Will- 
.•lam  H.  Landsden,  died  at  Andersonviile,  October  6th,  1864; 
Thci.dore  C.  Noel;  David  M.  Sapp,  mustered  out  as  corporal; 
William  Wier,  mustered  out  as  corporal ;  William  T.  Walker, 
Rev.,  died  at  Nashville,  February  28th,  1865  ;  Henry  H.  Wyles, 
transferred  to  veteran  reserve  corps  ;  Amos  Scott,  promoted  ist 
lieutenant. 

Recruits.  Thomas  R.  Alway,  November,  1S63,  transferred  to 
34th  Illinois;  Isaac  H.  Bodenhamer,  November,  1863,  trans- 
ferred to  34th  Illinois;  Chris.  G.  Bodenhamer,  November,  1863; 
John  W.  Sapp,   November,  1863,    Jied   at   Nashville,  November 


2  24  A   History  of 

23d,  1S64;  William  H.  Wier,  November,  1S63  ;  Howard  Wilds, 
November,  1S63  ;  Samuel  J- James,  January,  1S64;  William  K. 
Ruggles,  January,  1S64  ;  Edward  H.  Wheeler,  January,  1664;^. 
Harvey  F.  Hendricks,  March,  1S64  ;  Hiram  Scott,  died  at  Nnsh- 
ville,  March  27,  1S63  ;  John  Steen,  died  at  Vining,  Georgia,  July 
22,   1S64  —  wounds. 

Company  D.  Sidney  Botts,  mustered  cat  as  corporal ;  Joseph 
O.  Botts,  discharged  June,  1863  —  disability;  John  L.  Bell,  died 
at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  February  3d,  1S63  ;  Luther  C.  Burton, 
died  at  Louisville,  June  26th,  1864  —  wounds  ;  Samuel  S.  Davis, 
killed  at  Jonesboro,  Georgia,  September  1st,  1864;  William 
Earle,  discharged  September,  1S63  —  disability;  Egbert  New- 
man, mustered  out  June  yih,  1865  —  prisoner,  died  in  hospital  at 
Richmond  ;  Solomon  Fry  ;  David  G.  Hawkins,  died  at  Louis- 
ville, May  I2th,  1S63  ;  William  K.Long;  William  E.  Milion, 
mustered  out  as  corpora]  ;  Thomas  B.  Smith,  transferred  to  vet- 
eran reserve  corps,  July  25th,  1S64  ;  Charles  M.  Bennett,  musi- 
cian ;  Richard  H.  Scott,  killed  at  Jonesboro,  September  2d, 
1864;  Samuel  Fugate,  corporal,  killed  at  Rasaca,  Georgia,  May 
I5lh,  1864;  Martin  Fugate,  killed  at  Chickamauga,  September 
20th,  1863  ;  Solomon  Toulon,  killed  at  Chickamauga,  September 
20th,  1S63  ;  William  Toulon,  discharged,  joined  i4Sth  regiment ;. 
John  Mullin,  recruit ;    Silas  Bayles. 

The  service  of  the  78th  regiment  is  indicated  to  a  good  degree 
by  its  list  of  dead.  It  saw  a  good  deal  of  hard  service.  It  will 
be  seen  by  the  list,  that  ihij  regiment  contained  by  far  the  most 
numerous  representation  of  soldiers  fiom  this  vicinity  of  an)' 
regiment  in  the  service. 

It  received  its  final  pay  and  discharge  at  Chicago,  June  I2th, 
1865. 

Eighty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry 

was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at  Chicago,  Sep- 
tember 4th,  1S62,  as  the  2d  Board  of  Trade  Regiment. 

The  following  men  from  Plymouth  were  enlisted  for  ihis- 
regiment,  August   27th,  1S62. 

Charles  Winchell,  corporal,  mustered  out  as  private  ;  Isaac 
S.  Cunningham,  Robert  Jones  ;  Jacob  Wright,  died  at  Nash- 
ville, January  15,  1S64. 

This  regiment  was  in  the  battles  of  Perryville,  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  and  Atlanta.  From  thence  back 
to  Chattanooga,  Franklin  and  Nashville.  Mustered  out  at 
Nashville,  and  discharged  at  Chicago,  June  22d,  1S65. 

One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Organized  at  Camp  Buth-r,   August,  1S62. 

Silas  Bayles,  Harrison  L.  Bayles,  tiarry  H.  Gallowny,  Isaac 
Grifteth,  died  at  Port  Hudson,  La.,  May  20th,  i£64. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       225 

The  iiSth  was  at  Vicksburg,  afterward  in  the  department  of 
the  Gulf.     Mustered  out  at  Baton  Rouge,  October  ist,  1S65. 

One  Hundred  and  Nineteenth  Illinois  Infantry. 
Organized  at  Qiiincf,    October  loth,  1S62. 

Thomas  Stoneking.  Elijah  Williams ;  Henry  C.  Hamilton, 
mustered  out  as  corporal  ;  John  Saddler,  Edward  Saddler ; 
William    Thompson,   sergeant,    died   at    Memphis,  March    8th, 

1864  ;   Jonathan   S.  Tucker,  discharged   for  disability  ;    Andrew 
Wade. 

Recruits.  Harrison  Kneff,  June  loth,  1863,  died  at  Quincy, 
January  12th,  1S65  ;  William  J.  Granger,  March  3d,  1S65  ; 
Thomas  Harrison,  March  3d,  1S65  ;    Abraham  Riley,  March  3d, 

1865  ;    Willis   Bilderback,    March    3d,    1S65  ;    Clement   S.    Noel, 
March  3d.  1S65. 

The  service  of  the  119th  regiment  was  mainly  in  Kentucky 
during  the  year  1S63,  and  in  Louisiana  in  1S64  ;  was  engaged  in 
the  Red  River  expedition  :  afterwards  at  Nashville;  also  via 
New  Orleans  at  Spanish  Fort  and  Blakely.  Discharged  at  Camp 
Butler,  September  4th,  1865. 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at  Camp  Butler,  Septem- 
ber 10th,  1862. 

Thomas  P.  Price,  sergeant,  ]n-omoted  2nd  lieutenant  ;  Presley 
Hobbs  ;  Patrick  Y.  Mullen,  transferred  to  invalid  corps  ;  Hugh 
E.  Wear,  discharged  October  ist,  1S64  —  disalMlity  ;  William  J. 
Waller;  Franklin  Myers,  died  at  Big  Black  River  Bridge,  April 
4th,  1S64;  James  M.  Wear;  Haywood  Howell,  discharged 
March  r2th^  1S63  —  disability;  John  W.  Holton,  Jo-eph 
Duncan. 

The  124th  regiment  was  in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills,  at 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  at  the  siege  of  Spanish  Fort;  was 
discharged  at  Chicago.  August  15th,  1865. 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth  Illinois  Infanti.y. 
One    Year  Regiment.     Organized  February  21st,  iS6s- 

Joshua  H.  Scott,  mustered  out  as  corporal;  William  To- 
land,  mustered  out  as  corporal  ;  Abraham  Weaver,  corporal,, 
mustered  out  as  private  ;  William  Cecil,  Benjamin  F.  Johnson, 
Lemuel  H.  Johnson,  Albert  D.  New  ;  Hiram  Saddler,  mustered 
out  as  sergeant  ;  Abel  F.  Spiva,  Felix  Thomas,  James  L 
Woodard. 

The  service  of  the  i4Sth  regiment  consisted  mainly  of  guard 
duty  in  Tennessee.     Discharged  at   Springfield.  September  gth,. 
186  =  . 


:2  26  A   History  of 

One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  Illinois  Infantry. 
•One  Year  Regiment.     Organized  at  Quincy,  February  2ji/i,  i86j. 
Chauncey  \V.  Scoville,  Ambert-on  Seaton. 

Sent  to  Macon,  Georgia,  and  to  Kingston;  in  no  battles  — 
-guard  and  garrison  duty.  Discharged  at  Springfield,  February 
.8th,  iS66. 

Second  Illinois  Artillery.     Battery  H. 

battery  H  was  Organized  at  Camp  Butler,  December  jist.  iS6i. 

James  H.  Dean,  Leonard  F.  Mills. 

Company  H  of  the  2d  Artillery  was  at  the  siege  of  Fort  Don- 
.elson,  and  at  Fort  Pillow.  Their  service  was  mainly  in  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee.  A  portion  of  the  time  they  were  mounted 
and  armed  as  cavalry  and  served  as  scouts.  Discharged  at 
Springfield,  July  2gth,    1865. 

There  was  a  period  in  the  early  part  of 
the  war  in  which  the  patriotism  of  lUinois 
so  overflowed  its  own  proper  channels  as  to 
supply  a  considerable  force  to  fill  the  defi- 
ciency in  the  quota  of  the  sister  State  of 
Missouri.  A  considerable  number  of  re- 
>cruits  from  this  vicinity  were  in  this  way 
-enrolled  in  Missouri  resfinients.  In  reo-ard 
to  these,  we  are  at  the  disadvantage  of  hav- 
ing  no  access  lo  official  records  by  which  to 
correct  errors  in  our  list  of  names,  or  to  crive 
facts  as  to  promotions,  or,  in  most  cases,  any 
particulars  of  the  death  of  those  of  the  num- 
ber who  died  in  the  service. 

By  comparison  with,  and  corrections  from 
the  official  report  of  the  Adjutant  General 
of  Illinois,  the  record  just  made  of  enlist- 
jnents,  etc.,  from  this  vicinity,  in  the  various 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       227 

Illinois  regiments  designated,  possesses 
.about  all  the  value  of  an  official  record. 
With  these  explanations  to  account  for  any 
errors  or  deficiencies  that  may  be  found  in 
what  follows,  we  proceed,  with  the  sources 
of  information  at  hand,  to  make  up  our  local 
record  of  enlistments  : 

Seventh  Missouri  Cavalry. 

William  H.  Bell,  Henry  Whitney,  George  Butler,  James  Ross, 
Archibald  Montgomery,  Alfred  Michael  ;  A.  J.  Hughes,  after- 
wards in  155th  Illinois  Infantry;  Rezin  Hughes,  died  in  the 
service  ;  Hezekiah  Hughes,  Jesse  Clark,  George  Mikesell. 

Tliis  regiment  was  on  duty  in  northern  ]\Iissouri  for  some 
time,  watching  and  regulating  the  bushwhackers.  Later  in  the 
war  they  were  in  more  active  service  in  southwest  Missouri,  and 
in  Arkansas,  where  they  were  in  a  number  of  battles  of  more  or 
less  importance. 

Tenth  Missouri  Infantry. 

Organized  in  the  Fall  of  iSbi,  at  St.  Louis . 

It  consisted  at  first  almost  entirely  of  Illinois  men,  but  after- 
wards three  companies  of  Missouri  troops  were  added  to  it.  Our 
locality  had  the  following  representatives  in  this  regiment :  viz., 

W.  D.  Burdett ;  John  T.  Hayden,  died  in  the  service;  Sam- 
uel Ritchey,  died  at  St.  Louis,  May  i8th,  1862  ;  George  Parks; 
James  Cox,  accidentally  shot  ;  Samuel  F.  Haggard  ;  Delancy 
Higby,  shot  at  Jackson,  Mississippi,  died  of  wounds,  June  4th, 
1863 ;  John  Wade,  died  at  Andersonville ;  Henry  Horney, 
Thomas  J.  Farley,  George  Haggard,  Lewis  Roberts,  Frank  Cook, 
•Gilmore  W.  Smith,  Dennis  McDonald,  Jesse  Hendrickson  ; 
James  M.  Smith,  died  in  the  service  ;  Alson  Wier,  James  Ewing, 
William  Ewing. 

The  loth  Missouri  was  in  the  battles  of  Corinth,  luka,  siege 
of  Corinth,  Vicksburg,  Chattanooga,  etc. 

Those  whose  Regiments  are  not  Designated.* 

The  following  list  comprises  names  from  our  vicinity,  a  por- 
tion of  which  we  are  unable  to  find  in  the  Adjutant  General's 
official  report.  Another  portion  of  the  list  has  been  furnished 
us  since  making  up  the  foregoing  record  : 

*  The  numbers  rif  regiments,  and  other  memoranda  found  in  this  li<t 
•anainly  furnished  after  the  list  of  names  was  completed. 


228  A  History  of 

William  Saddler,  Sgth  Illinois  Volunteers  —  Railroad  Regi- 
ment ;  Peter  Wade,  89th  Illinois  Volunteers,  died  at  Chatta- 
nooga, June  30th,  1864 ;  David  ]\I.  Sell,  146th  Illinois  Volun- 
teers ;  Solomon  T.  Sell,  146th  Illinois  Volunteers;  Wesley 
Parks,  died  in  the  service  ;  James  Johnson,  William  E.  Botts  ; 
Moses  H  illiday,  engineer  corps  ;  Francis  M.  Holliday,  musician, 
S4th  Illinois,  killed  near  Kenesaw  Mountain,  June,  1864  ;  James 
Purdham,  84lh  Illinois;  Samuel  Purdham,  2d  lieutenant,  59th 
Illinois  ;  Meshack  Purdham,  59th  Illinois  ;  Hiram  Watts,  Jo- 
seph Bayles,  Thomas  Hamilton,  Benjamin  Hamilton,  Joseph 
Cox,  Thomas  Cox,  Willis  Kneff,  James  W,  Johnson, '  Hugh 
Wear,  Jonathan  Barney;  Joseph  Jenkins,  died  in  the  service; 
.Thomas  Jenkins,  James  Wilson,  Pelaliah  Wilson,  Charles  Wilson^ 

The  above  lists  comprise  about  260  names 
of  persons  enlisted  from  this  vicinity  —  ter- 
ritory embracing  about  two  and  a  half  town- 
ships :  viz.,  St.  Mary's,  Lamoine,  and  about 
half  of  Birmingham  township.  The  record, 
undoubtedly,  is  still  incomplete.  Of  those 
recorded,  twenty  per  cent,  of  the  entire 
number  —  over  fifty  persons — -sealed  their 
devotion  to  the  cause  with  their  lives. 

We  have  one  more  list  to  present,  com- 
prising present  residents  of  Plymouth  who 
were  in  the  service,  enlisted  elsewhere  : 

Robert  H.  Ellis,  Augusta,  2d  lieutenant,  119th  Illirtois  Infant- 
ry, October  7th,  1862,  promoted  1st  lieutenant  October  2:d,  1S63, 
promoted  captain  September  30th,  1864. 

Samuel  IVilson,  Bethel,  lieutenant  colonel,  i6lh  IlliRois  In- 
fantry, May  24th,  1S61,  resigned  September,  ;S62. 

Asaph  y.  Davis,  Littleton,  captain,  loth  Missouri  Infantry, 
accidentally  drowned  at  Birmingliam,  June  6th,  1.S6S-. 

yay  Davis,  Massachusetts  Infantry,  service  on  the  coast  of 
North  Carolina  and  Virginia  and  at  Petersburg  and  Richmond, 

Rev.  Wilson  F.  Cellar,  82d  Ohio ;  service  in  West  Virginia 
with  Fremont,  army  of  the  Potomac  with  Pope,  army  of  the 
Cumberland  with  Sherman.  Mustered  out  as  commissary  ser- 
geant. 

IVilliatn  Wightman,  quarter-master's  sergeant,  14th  Vermont 
Infantry;    service  about   the  defenses  of  Washington  —  General 


RoiLud  Prairie  and  PlymoiUh.       229 

Heint'/elman's  division;  with  General  Meade  at  Gettysburg, 
where  the  14th  Vermont  lost  about  one  hundred  men. 

George  H.  AlcDattieU  143d  Ohio  Infantry  ;  service  in  the  tenth 
:army  corps,  on  the  Potomac,  General  McBirney. 

Calvin  M.  Covert,  Camp  Point,  recruit,  50th  Illinois  Infantry. 
Mustered  in,  February,  1S64;  mustered  out,  July,  1S65. 

Robei-t  IV.  Covert,  Camp  Point,  recruit,  50th  Illinois  Infantry. 
Mustered  in,  January,  1S65  ;    mustered  out,  July,  1S65. 


RECRUITING    EXTRAORDINARY. 

Our  local  history  of  the  war  would  be  in- 
complete should  we  omit  the  following  little 
episode  that  occurred  during  the  earlier  and 
darker  days  of  the  war.  The  event  may  be 
placed  in  the  summer  of  1862.  The  spirit 
of  rebellion  began  to  manifest  itself  quite 
decidedly  in  our  midst  and  about  us.  A 
"  fire  in  the  rear "  was  proposed  as  a  diver- 
sion in  favor  of  the  enemy. 

The  fact  that  there  was  an  actual  organi- 
zation in  our  midst,  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
structing the  government  in  all  practicable 
ways,  in  its  efforts  to  suppress  the  rebellion, 
rests  upon  very  conclusive  evidence. 

The  more  intelligent  leaders  of  the  demo- 
cratic party,  foreseeing  the  danger  and  dis- 
aster that  might  result  from  going  a  step 
too  far  in  the  direction  indicated,  made 
some  efforts  to  allay  the  threatened  storm. 

Colonel  Dick  Richardson  was  sent  here  to 
make  a  speech.     His   effort,  on  the  whole, 


230  A  History  of 

was  a  very  fair  war  speech,  calculated  ta 
allay  excitement  and  harmonize  all  parties 
in  the  prosecution  of  the  war. 

Subsequent  events  proved  that  other  par- 
ties had  taken  the  case  in  hand  also.  In 
Colonel  Richardson's  audience  were  two 
other  active  workers  in  the  Union  cause. 
These  were  members  of  the  United  States 
secret  service,  —  here  ostensibly  in  the  guise 
of  agents  of  the  rebel  grovernment.  In  this 
latter  capacity  they  circulated  themselves 
freely  among  the  crowd,  finding  plenty  of 
friendly  sympathizers,  into  whose  confidence 
they  readily  ingratiated  themselves,  and 
from  whom  they  obtained  all  the  necessary 
information  they  desired. 

After  the  meeting  broke  up,  one  of  the 
detectives  adjourned,  with  a  number  of  his 
newly  made  friends,  to  a  saloon  "  out  in  the 
bush  "  beyond  the  corporation  limits,  where 
they  drank  together  the  health  of  Jeff.  Davis,, 
in  as  good  whisky,  no  doubt,  as  Rebeldom 
could  afford.  After  a  jolly  time  together^ 
the  exercises  were  closed  in  an  orthodox 
way  by  the  detective  "taking  up  a  collec- 
tion "  for  the  cause  he  had  represented  so 
successfully :  the  exact  amount  thereof  we 
are  unable  to  state  ;  but  the  agent  consid- 
ered it  ample  for  the  occasion.     The  meet- 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       23  r 

ing  adjourned  ;  and  as  night  drew  the  thick 
curtains  of  darkness  down  over  the  scene,, 
the  detectives  "  silently  folded  their  tents,"' 
if  they  had  any,  and  disappeared. 

The  scene  opens  again,  say  two  or  three 
days  after  the  occurrences  noted  above.  A 
train  came  up  from  Ouincy  during  the  night, 
containing  a  little  squad  of  United  States 
soldiers.  Part  of  the  squad  dropped  off 
quietly  at  Plymouth  ;  the  remainder  went 
on  to  the  next  station  —  Colmar.  There 
three  men  were  very  promptly  recruited  for 
some  special  service  the  government  had  in 
view  for  them,  and  put  on  board  the  train, 
which  then  fell  back  to  Augusta.  The  squad 
of  soldiers  that  stopped  at  Plymouth,  picked 
up  a  guide  here  without  much  delay,  and 
took  up  their  line  of  march  westward.  They 
were  soon  rewarded  for  their  efforts  by  pick- 
ing up  a  sturdy  recruit  by  the  wayside.  Go- 
ing forward  over  hill  and  dale,  another  was 
found  at  some  distance  from  the  first.  Here, 
dismissing  their  guide,  they  made  a  detour 
and  struck  the  railroad  at  Augusta,  where 
they  made  another  recruit.  They  found 
their  comrades  awaiting  them  there,  and 
uniting  their  forces,  found  themselves  in 
charge  of  a  company  of  six.  Although  this 
formed  quite  a  nucleus   for  an  organization,, 


232  A  History  of 

the  officers  were  not  altogether  happv. 
Both  squads  came  in  short  of  the  number 
of  men  that  had  been  "  booked "  for  this 
occasion.  Some  of  the  number  had  man- 
aged to  elude  the  soldiers,  and  bravely  ran 
aivay  —  perchance  to  fight  another  day. 
This  shortage  left  the  new  company  rather 
heavily  officered  in  proportion  to  the  rank 
and  file ;  the  latter,  however,  comprised  some 
solid  men.  Amongr  the  officers  of  the  new 
company  we  may  designate  the  commissary, 
selected  on  account  of  his  experience  in  pro- 
viding such  supplies  as  were  supposed  to  be 
an  excellent  stimulant  to  rebel  spirits  —  a 
chief  bugler,  whosQ  professional  practice  had 
given  him  a  great  capacity  for  blowing — and 
lastly,  a  sttrgeon  dindp kysiciaji,  that  the  wants 
of  the  sick  and  wounded  might  be  properly 
attended. 

The  company  proceeded  at  once  to  St. 
Louis,  via  Ouincy.  Among  other  agreeable 
traveling  companions  on  the  journey  was 
one  of  the  detectives  whose  acquaintance 
some  of  them  had  the  pleasure  of  making  at 
Plymouth  a  few  days  previously. 

The  company  reported  at  the  office  of  the 
United  States  marshal,  by  whom  they  were 
assigned  to  duty.  The  nature  of  the  service 
to  which  they  were  assigned,  we  are  unable 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       2  ^  ^ 


OJ 


to  give  In  detail.  Suffice  It  to  say  that  the 
new  recruits  proved  such  ready  learners 
under  the  faithful  tuition  that  they  received 
in  the  duties  due  to  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment that  they  were  considered  compe- 
tent for  sfraduatlon  in  less  than  two  weeks 
from  the  time  of  their  enlistment.  They 
returned  to  their  homes  to  practice  the  les- 
sons learned,  and  to  aid  In  enforcing  them 
upon  their  neighbors. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

Birmingham  lies  at  the  extreme  south- 
-eastern limit  of  the  territory  we  have  de- 
scribed as  Round  Prairie,  being  at  the  junc- 
tion of  Flour  Creek  with  Crooked  Creek. 
Having,  in  previous  chapters,  given  some 
description  of  the  locality,  with  traditions  of 
Indian  history,  etc.,  our  attention  no.w  is  di- 
rected especially  to  the  more  Important  facts 
concerning  the  town.  Its  history  as  a  town 
bears  even  date  with  Plymouth,  being  laid 
out  In  1836.  The  original  proprietors  were 
David  Graham,  David  and  Moses  Manlove. 
Of  these  the  former  only  survives,  and  is 
still  a  resident  of  the  place. 
16 


2  34  -^  History  of 

The  town  plat  comprises  about  fifteen^ 
acres,  and  is  located  on  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  eleven  (ii),  township  3  N. 
4W. 

The  mill  efiterprise  preceded  the  town  in 
point  of  time,  the  latter  growing,  as  a  result, 
out  of  the  former.  The  mill  was  built  in 
1835-6  by  David  Graham  and  Robert  Wil- 
son. A  year  or  two  later  Wilson  sold  out 
his  interest  to  the  brothers  David  and  Moses 
Manlove. 

[The  story  is  told  that  Wilson  retired 
from  the  firm  because  of  a  slight  "  unpleas- 
antness "  with  his  partner,  in  which  some 
very  striking  arguments  were  used,  that  not 
only  floored  Wilson,  but  let  him  through 
the  floor  into  the  creek  below.  Such  logic 
was  so  overwhelming  that  he  retired  from 
the  firm  in  disgust] 

The  first  house  in  Birmingham  was  built 
of  logs,  in  the  mill  yard,  and  was  put  up  for 
the  accommodation  of  some  of  the  employes 
of  the  mill. 

The  first  school  in  the  place  was  taught 
by  William  Noel  in  1837,  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  David  Graham's  house.  The  fol- 
lowing year  the  first  school  house  was  put 
up.  This  stood  in  an  oak  grove  south  of 
town,  across  FJour  Creek. 


Ro7ind  Prairie  a7id  Plymouth.       235 

An  incident  occurred  at  this  school  house 
in  1848  that  is  thought  to  be  worthy  of  no- 
tice. Dr.  Newell  Sapp,  then  a  student  of 
medicine,  was  teaching  at  the  time. 

During  a  severe  storm  a  large  oak  tree 
blew  down  and  fell  across  the  building,  crush- 
ing one  side  down  to  the  floor,  and  the  op- 
posite side  to  within  about  four  feet  of  the 
floor.  A  catastrophe  involving  a  probable 
loss  of  life  and  limb  was  averted  by  the  in- 
mates gathering  on  the  side  of  the  building 
least  damaged  by  the  crash. 

The  school  house  in  the  village  was  built 
in  1853,  and  was  used  for  several  years,  not 
only  for  school  purposes  but  also  for  relig- 
ious meetings. 

A  SiiJiday  school  was  organized  in  Bir- 
mingham in  1842  by  Mr.  Briscoe  and  Carr 
King. 

The  Alethodist  Church  of  Birmingham 
was  organized  in  1842  by  Elders  Barger 
and  Bell. 

Of  the  origfinal  members  of  this  church 
we  have  been  unable  to  obtain  a  complete 
list.  The  following,  however,  were  among 
the  number : 

Francis  M.  Graham,  Mary  Graham,  James 
Graham,  William  Graham,  Elizabeth  Sapp. 

The  preachers,  in  addition  to  those  named 


.236  A  History  of 

above,  have  been,  W.  Oliver,  —  Crane,  Jo- 
seph Johnson,  —  Dickerson,  —  Phinkbine, 

—  Borton,   —  WilHams,   —  Clevinger,   — 
Keener,  —  WaHace,  —  Davison,  —  Jordon, 

—  Stubble,  and  —  Tipton. 

The  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1866; 
it  is  a  neat  frame  building,  in  size  35  by  40 
feet.  This  being  the  only  church  building 
in  the  place,  is  frequently  opened  for  the 
ajse  of  other  denominations. 

Although  out  of  its  chronological  order, 
-we  notice  here,  as  a  part  of  the  religious 
history  of  the  place,  a  revival  of  great  power, 
that  took  place  in  1874,  under  the  labors  of 
John  P.  Dawson,  then  a  lay  evangelist,  now 
a  licensed  minister  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  marked  features  of  the  work 
were,  that  nearly  all  its  subjects  were  adults, 
many  of  them  far  advanced  in  life  ;  and  that 
nearly  the  entire  adult  population  of  the 
place  were  subjects  of  it. 

Out  of  this  revival  grew 

The  Presbyterian  C/mrck  of  Birmingham. 
This  was  organized  April  22d,  1875,  by  a 
committee  of  Schuyler  Presbytery,  consist- 
ing of  Rev.  W.  F.  Cellar  and  Elder  A.  W. 
King. 

The  original  members  of  this  church  were, 

S.  R.  Sapp,  T.  C.  Noel,  Mrs.  E.  C.  Noel, 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       237" 

Mrs.  Ann  M.  Sapp,  David  Graham,  Mrs.  Lu- 
cinda  Graham,  James  M.  Groves,  Mrs.  E.  B- 
Groves,  WilHam  Noel,  Mrs.  Anna  Noel,  Mrs. 
vSarah  Garden,  Miss  M.  A.  Johnson,  Frank 
Graham,  Miss  Clara  B.  Sapp,  Mrs.  Louisa 
Sapp,  Miss  Janette  Sell,  Miss  Viola  Sell,  Miss- 
Emma  Crawford,  Miss  Mary  Howell,  Mrs. 
M.  L.  Sapp,  Mr.  C.  C.  McPherson,  together 
with  James  G.  King  and  his  wife  (Mary- 
King),  and  their  two  children,  Emma  and. 
Louisa,  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Plymouth.  Total  membership  at  the  time 
of  organization,  twenty-five. 

This  church  has  been  supplied  with 
preaching,  since  its  organization,  on  Sab- 
bath afternoons,  by  Rev.  W.  F.  Cellar,  of 
Plymouth. 

Sunday  schools.  Since  the  first,  as  noticed 
above,  a  Sunday  school  has  been  maintained 
with  a  good  deal  of  irregularity.  For  seve- 
ral years  its  existence  depended  upon  such 
labors  as  James  G.  King  and  Nathan  F,. 
Burton  found  time  to  bestow  upon  it.  More 
recently,  however,  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  Joshua  Hedgecock,  it  has  assumed 
a  form  of  more  permanence  and  consequent, 
prosperity. 

Business  of  Birmingham.  It  is  not  our 
purpose  to  give  minute  details  concerning 


238  A  Histoiy  of 

the  business  men  and  enterprises  of  Bir- 
mingham. But  some  of  the  more  prominent 
facts  will  be  of  general  interest.  The  mill 
has  been  the  means  of  attracting  custom 
from  a  considerable  extent  of  country  to 
this  point ;  and  during  the  earlier  history  of 
the  place,  when  mills  were  few  and  far  be- 
tween, this  advantao-e  was  far  orreater  than 
now.  Until  the  building  of  the  C.  B.  and 
Q.  R.  R.  the  facilities  of  Birmingham  for 
business  communication  with  the  commer- 
cial centers  of  trade  were  fully  equal  to 
those  of  any  of  its  neighboring  towns. 

These  were  the  palmy  days  in  the  busi-- 
ness  history  of  the  place.  Among  those  to 
reap  the  benefits  of  the  situation  during  this 
period  were  David  and  William  H.  Graham 
—  the  first  mercantile  firm  in  the  field,  com- 
mencing in  1836.  They  were  succeeded  by 
William  H.  Graham,  William  Noel  and 
Elihu  Meredith.  In  1846  Captain  William 
Wright  came  upon  the  field,  and  continued 
in  business  for  about  twenty  years.  In  1847 
John  J.  Hippie  commenced  business  and 
continued  until  his  removal  to  Plymouth  in 
1854. 

Amono-  others  eno-ag^ed  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness  for  various  periods  since,  we  mention 
David  McCreary,  D.  Graham,  D.  P.  Graham 


Rou7id  Prairie  mid  Plymouth.       239 

and  George  Smith,  David  M.  Sapp,  — 
McGookin,  Phineas  Wells,  O.  J.  Meacham, 
—  Johnson,  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Garden. 

Quite  an  extensive  manufacture  of  fanning- 
mills  was  carried  on  here  about  1838-40  by 
William  Noel  and  H.  F.  Sapp.  Birmingham 
has  been  somewhat  noted  for  its  business  in 
cooperage  and  cooperage  stock,  the  most 
extensive  operator  being  William  Noel. 

Professional.  The  Principal  physicians 
of  the  place  have  been  William  Booten, 
1838-40;  J.  M.  Randolph,  1842-48;  John 
McCreary,  Newell  Sapp,  1850-65.  Bir- 
mingham supported  an  attorney,  Adam 
Sapp,  for  a  number  of  years  —  a  luxury  that 
but  few  towns  of  its  size  could  afford,  nor 
could  Birminorham  have  done  it  but  for  the 
thriving  business  done  by  Alf.  Davis  and 
■others  of  his  class  in  the  whisky  trade.  The 
regions  just  beyond  Birmingham  proved  a 
powerful  feeder  to  its  trade  in  this  line.  We 
might  put  our  finger  on  the  date  of  a  single 
year  during  which  the  notorious  A.  D.  sold 
■on  an  average  five  gallons  of  luhisky  per  day 
for  the  entire  year,  to  say  nothing  of  fancy 
drinks  or  of  liquors  obtained  from  other  than 
.a  single  source.  Alf.  was  in  a  fair  way  to 
^et  some  of  his  dues  in  this  world  at  one 
time  in   the   Schuyler  County  jail,  under  a 


240  A     Histoiy  of 

heavy  sentence  of  fine  and  imprisonment  for 
selling  liquor  in  violation  of  law.  The  tem- 
perance men  of  Birmingham  and  vicinity 
have  not  yet  ceased  to  be  indignant  at  the 
men  and  means  used  to  secure  his  release. 

The  region  beyond  Birmingham  that  we 
have  referred  to,  is  known  as  Gin  Ridj^e  ; 
and  whether  willingly  or  not,  Birmingham 
must  take  a  large  share  of  the  responsibility,, 
not  only  of  its  name,  but  also  of  the  charac- 
ter it  bore  for  so  many  years.  (Like  Bir- 
mingham, Gin  Ridge  has  been  renovated  by 
the  power  of  the  Gospel.) 

Some  of  the  earlier  business  men  of  Bir- 
mingham were  engaged  in  the  liquor  trade. 
"  Once  upon  a  time  "  they  were  hauling  a 
load  of  the  stuff  from  Beardstown  —  a  choice,, 
assorted  load,  —  the  time  was  winter,  and 
they  were  hauling  it  —  the  liquor — -on  a 
sled.  The  load  either  became  very  heavy,, 
or  the  sled  got  weak-kneed  under  its  influ- 
ence and  broke  down,  just  as  men  do  who 
attempt  to  carry  too  much  of  it  There 
they  were  !  in  these  same  "  regions  beyond."' 
Night  was  upon  them  and  it  was  fearfully- 
cold.  The  best  they  could  do  was  to  aban- 
don both  liquor  and  sled  for  the  night,  and 
make  their  way  home.  The  next  morning, 
on  returning  to  gather  up  the  remains  of  the- 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymoiith.       241 

wreck,  they  found  that  a  barrel  of  whisky 
had  been  tapped  and  tested,  and  that  a  keg 
of  gin  had  disappeared  entirely.  To  this- 
circumstance  Gin  Ridge  owes  its  name. 

While  upon  the  subject  of  regions  beyoiid,. 
another,  perhaps,  deserves  a  passing  notice 
on  account  of  its  euphonious  (?)  name.  We 
refer  to  a  ridge  of  land  lying  immediately 
south  of  Round  Prairie  and  between  Flour 
Creek  and  Williams'  Creek,  terminating  at 
the  confluence  of  these  two  streams,  just 
above  Birmingham.  This  point  east  of  the 
Augusta  prairie,  is  very  rolling,  dry  land,, 
possessing  a  decided  advantage  in  the  pro- 
duction of  crops  in  very  wet  seasons,  but 
suffering  proportionately  in  dry  seasons.  It 
is  said  that  Mr.  Harvey  Garrett,  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  years  ago,  after  successive 
failures  of  the  corn  crop,  in  which  the  ears 
were  few  and  small — nothinor  but  nubbins  — 
determined  to  perpetuate  the  fact  by  naming 
the  locality  Nubbin  Ridge.  The  name  re- 
mains, whether  the  seasons  be  wet  or  dry.. 
But  we  must  cease  our  dio-ressive  ramblino- 
and   oret  back  to  Birminc{ham. 

A  post  office  was  established  in  Birming- 
ham about  1840,  William  Noel,  postmaster,, 
who  served  until  1848.  His  successors  have 
been  as  follows:    F.  Patterson,  until  1850;. 


;242  A  History  of 

D.  McCreary,  until  1852;  D.  P.  Graham, 
up  to  1857  ;  J.  H.  Graham,  until  1859  i  Ben- 
jamin Sapp,  for  a  few  months  of  the  latter 
year;  Adam  Sapp,  until  his  death  in  1874, 
and  his  widow,  Mrs.  Ann  Sapp,  since  that 
time.  This  office  was  supplied  weekly  from 
Plymouth  until  1858,  at  which  time  a  weekly 
route  was  established  through  to  Rushville 
from  Plymouth,  via  Birmingham,  Brooklyn, 
etc.  Since  July,  1874,  this  has  been  a  tri- 
•weekly  route. 

One  of  the  important  manufactures  of 
Birmingham  is  that  of  maple  sii^ar.  This 
■business,  however,  is  not  confined  to  Bir- 
mingham, but  at  various  points  on  Crooked 
Creek  as  it  borders  on  Round  Prairie  there 
are  sugar  camps,  perhaps  a  dozen  or  more 
in  number,  at  which  the  owners  or  renters 
spend  the  entire  season  of  the  "  run "  in 
-camp,  gathering  the  "  sugar  water"  and  boil- 
inp"  it  down.  There  is  much  of  romance  in 
this  wild  camp  life,  for  a  season,  in  the  woods 
—  especially  for  occasional  visitors,  —  but 
more  of  the  rough  experiences  of  genuine 
frontier  life  in  earlier  days. 

We  have  no  statistics  of  the  average  sugar 
crop  in  this  vicinity,  which  varies  greatly  as 
the  season  proves  favorable  for  its  produc- 
tion, or  otherwise ;   but   it   must   aggregate 


Round  Praii'ie  and  Plymouth.       243 

several  thousand  pounds.  The  greater  part 
of  the  crop  finds  a  ready  market  for  home 
consumption,  but  in  seasons  favorable  for  a 
large  supply,  a  considerable  amount  is  sent 
abroad. 

Birmingham  has  been,  during  most  of  its 
history,  at  a  serious  disadvantage  in  its  com- 
munication with  its  neighbors  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  Crooked  Creek.  It  is  only  since 
1872  that  they  have  enjoyed  the  benefits  of 
a  bridge  across  that  stream.  Previously  such 
communication  depended  upon  the  water 
being  low  enough  to  make  the  ford — just 
below  the  mill  —  available,  or  upon  a  skiff, 
or  rope  ferry,  as  means  of  crossing.  Flour 
Creek  was  bridged  at  this  point  many  years 
ago,  the  old  structure  giving  way  to  a  neat, 
substantial  iron  bridge  which  has  recently 
been  erected. 

Some  sad  accidents  have  occurred  at  Bir- 
mingham. One  of  these  took  place  in  1851, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  Mr.  William  Scott 
by  drowning.  He  was  engaged  with  others 
in  raftine  losfs  to  the  mill.  The  creek  was 
high  and  the  current  very  strong,  and  as  they 
approached  the  mill  the  raft  became  unman- 
ageable and  threatened  to  go  over  the  dam. 
The  men  on  the  raft  thought  their  safety 
depended    upon    leaving   it   and    swimming 


244  ^   History  of 

ashore.     In  this  attempt  all  succeeded  but 
the  one  named  above. 

The  account  of  another  accident  we  copy 
substantially  as  published  in  one  of  the 
county  papers  at  the  time  : 

"  A   sad    affair  occurred    in    Birmingham, 
Schuyler   County,   on    Saturday,   June    6th, 
1868,  by  which  three  persons  lost  their  lives 
by  drowning  in  attempting  to  cross  Crooked 
Creek,  and  a  fourth  barely  escaped  the  same 
fate.     The  party  consisted  of  the  wife  and 
two    children   of   Dr.  A.  W.  King,  of  Ply- 
mouth, and  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  King,  Captain 
Asaph  J.  Davis,  company  A,  loth  Missouri 
Infantry.     They  were  returning  from  a  visit 
to  their  friends  at  Littleton,  and  as  the  creek 
was  too  high  to  ford,  they  were  about  driv- 
ing on  a  small  flatboat  that  is  kept  there  by 
the  mill  company  for  the  accommodation  of 
their   customers.       A    young    man    inexpe- 
1  lenced  in  the  management  of  the  boat  ran 
it  across  for  them,  and  was  attempting   to 
hold  it  to  the  shore  by  hand  instead  of  fast- 
ening it  securely,  as   he   should  have  done. 
Captain  Davis,  taking;  it  for  granted  that  the 
boatman  knew  his   business  and  was  doinor 
his   duty  properly,   attempted   to   drive   on. 
As    the   wheels    of  the    buggy  — a  covered 
one  with   the  top  up  —  struck  the  edge   of 


Round  Prairie  a7id  Ply 7110 nth.       245 

the  licrht  flatboat  it  shoved  it  into  the 
stream,  and  the  buggy  with  its  occupants 
sank  at  once,  dragging  the  team  off  the  boat 
backward.  Captain  Davis,  with  character- 
istic disinterestedness,  directed  all  his  efforts 
to  save  the  others,  and  at  the  sacrifice  of  his 
own  Hfe  succeeded  in  rescuing  the  oldest 
child,  a  little  girl  of  three  years.  Mrs. 
King's  body  was  taken  out  first,  but  all 
efforts  at  resuscitation  were  unavailing. 
The  other  bodies  were  recovered  a  few 
hours  later. 

"  Sabbath  afternoon  at  three  o'clock,  the 
funeral  was  attended  at  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Plymouth  by  one  of  the  largest 
gatherings  ever  assembled  in  the  place. 
The  three  lifeless  forms  of  Mrs.  King  and 
her  youngest  child,  a  boy  one  year  old, 
and  Captain  Davis,  now  rest  peacefully  be- 
neath the  sod,  bleeding  hearts  and  desolate 
homes  only  remaining  as  the  sad  memen- 
toes of  the  calamity  that  has  visited  a  large 
circle  of  friends  both  east  and  west. 

"  Captain  Davis  was  a  native  of  Warwick, 
Massachusetts,  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  this  region  from  his  connection  with  the 
army, 

"After  the  war  he  returned  to  Roxbury, 
Massachusetts,  was   married    about   a  year 


246  A  History  of 

ago,  and  came  west  this  spring  to  make  ar- 
rangements for  a  permanent  home  here,  ex- 
pecting to  bring  his  wife  out  in  the  fall. 

"  On  Monday,  June  ist,  a  few  friends  spent 
a  very  pleasant  evening  with  Dr.  King's 
family  celebrating  the  fifth  anniversary  of 
their  wedding,  little  thinking  that  the  week 
so  happily  begun  would  end  with  so  fearful 
a  calamity,  blighting  the  brightest  hopes, 
and  desolating  a  happy  home." 

Macomb  Journal,  June  loth,  1868. 

Futtire  prospects.  For  twenty  years  past 
Birmingham  has  been  at  a  disadvantage  with 
neighboring  towns  in  her  lack  of  railroad 
facilities.  There  seems  to  be  a  reasonable 
probability  that  this  condition  may  be  rem- 
edied in  the  not  distant  future.  Two  differ- 
ent lines  of  railroad  have  been  surveyed  some- 
what recently,  both  crossing  Crooked  Creek 
at  Birmingham.  Owing  to  the  general  stag- 
nation of  railroad  enterprises,  in  connection 
with  the  prevailing  business  depression,, 
nothing  further  has  been  done  ;  but  with  the 
revival  of  business  prosperity,  railroad  enter- 
prises will  again  go  forward.  Two  lines  of 
railroad  —  one  of  them  referred  to  above  — 
are  now  completed  to  the  Illinois  river. 
Both  are  seeking  connections  with  roads 
now  built  or  under  construction  west  of  the 
Mississippi.     They  must  have  such  connec- 


Round  Prairie  mid  Ply  moid  h.       247 

tions  to  make  them  valuable  as  through' 
routes.  The  building  of  about  sixty  miles 
of  new  road  from  the  Illinois  to  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  will  complete  such  through  con- 
nections. One  of  these  roads,  the  Illinois,. 
Bloomington  and  Western,  now  terminates 
at  Havana ;  the  other,  the  Springfield  and 
Northwestern,  terminates  at  Beardstown. 

Strenuous  efforts  are  being  made  to  direct 
these  lines  southward  to  Ouincy  and  north- 
ward to  Burlington.  Should  either  line 
adopt  a  more  direct  route  to  Keokuk  or 
Warsaw,  such  line  could  scarcely  fail  to 
cross  Crooked  Creek  at  Birmingham.  Irr 
this  connection  a  very  recent  newspaper 
paragraph  says  :  "  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  Company  are  seeking  an  outlet  to 
the  Mississippi  river,  and  that  Benjamin  E, 
Smith,  of  the  Indianapolis,  Bloomington  and 
Western  Railroad,  is  offering  inducements 
for  that  road  to  run  into  Warsaw  on  the  line 
crossing  at  Havana." 

Birmingham  may  take  courage  in  the  hope 
of  yet  becoming  a  railroad  town.  It  has 
plenty  of  room  in  which  to  grow,  should  such 
an  event  overtake  it.  The  present  popula- 
tion of  the  place  is  estimated,  in  the  absence 
of  definite  statistics,  at  about  seventy-five 
persons. 


.^48  A  History  of 


CHAPTER     XVII. 

Rev.  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy,  a  Presbyterian 
minister,  was  killed  by  a  mob  in  Alton,  Illi- 
nois, October,  1837.  The  difficulties  leading 
to  this  result  grew  out  of  his  attempt  to 
establish  an  anti-slavery  newspaper  at  that 
place. 

Round  Prairie,  the  subject  of  our  history, 
for  many  years  was  an  important  station  on 
a  prominent  line  of  the  so-called  Ufider- 
grou7id  Railroad. 

The  connection  between  these  two  histor- 
ical facts  may  be  worthy  of  some  attention 
and  discussion.  Facts  and  incidents  concern- 
ing the  latter  we  are  assured  will  be  of  deep 
local  interest  to  those  for  whom  we  write. 
The  killing  of  a  man,  among  the  millions  of 
earth,  may  seem  almost  as  insignificant  as 
the  crushinor  of  a  worm.  Should  an  entire 
.community  like  Round  Prairie  be  swept 
away  by  a  tornado,  or  swallowed  up  in  an 
•earthquake,  the  event  would  create  but  a 
ripple  upon  the  sensational  surface  of  the 
daily  press  of  a  small  portion  of  the  world. 
But  the  significance  of  events  are  not  to  be 
measured  always  by  their  apparent  impor- 
tance.      A    casual    observer     might     have 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        249 

thought  that  the  firing  of  the  first  gun  upon 
Fort  Sumpter  was  an  insignificant  matter, 
involving  but  the  waste  of  a  few  pounds  of 
powder  and  iron,  costing  but  a  trifle,  and 
hurting  nobody.  Yet  who  shall  attempt  to 
measure  the  importance  of  that  act  ?  The 
inanimate  mass  of  iron  hurled  thus  against 
the  walls  of  Sumpter,  struck  a  living  priii- 
xiple  deep  down  in  the  hearts  of  the  people ; 
has  shaken  a  great  nation  as  in  the  throes 
of  an  earthquake  ;  wasted  millions  of  treas- 
ure ;  drenched  many  a  fair  field  witli  human 
blood,  and  carried  sorrow  and  mourning  to 
almost  every  fireside  in  the  land.  Why  was 
this,  does  any  one  ask.?  We  may  answer  in 
the  clear  light  of  to-day — because  the  na- 
tional sin  of  human  slavery  could  only  be 
washed  out  in  the  nation's  best  blood.  How 
few  realized  the  real  issue.  Thousands,  with 
an  ardent  glow  of  patriotism  hastened  to  the 
tented  field  and  an  honored  soldier's  grave, 
who  never  saw  the  guiding  hand  above, 
pointing  to  the  enfranchisement  of  an  en- 
slaved race,  nor  recognized  the  fact  that  that 
hand  failed  to  crown  their  efforts  with  suc- 
cess until  the  leaders  fell  in  with  God's 
plans.  The  end  is  not  yet ;  the  work  is  un- 
finished, but  it  goes  forward  with  resistless 
tread.  "  The  mills  of  the  gods  grind  slow- 
17 


250  A  History  of 

ly,"  expresses  an  important  truth  —  though 
the  maxim  were  better  with  the  heathenism 

of  its  plurahty  of  gods  left  out .     A  few 

years  are  of  small  moment,  as  He  coimts 
time  in  the  working  out  of  his  plans.  Years 
of  preparation  were  necessary  in  educating 
a  portion  of  the  North  up  to  the  point  where 
God  could  use  them  as  instruments  in  doing 
the  work  He  had  planned  to  accomplish 
through  the  suppression  of  the  great  re- 
bellion. 

The  death  of  Lovejoy  was  one  of  the  links 
in  the  chain  of  educational  agencies  that 
God  used  to  train  men  in  the  principles  of 
universal  freedom.  "The  blood  of  the  mar- 
tyrs is  the  seed  of  the  church."  That  Love- 
joy  was  a  martyr  to  his  earnest  convictions 
no  one  doubts.  His  blood  produced  a 
bountiful  harvest  in  the  agitation  of  the 
slavery  question  through  all  this  region. 
That  agitation  and  discussion  brousfht  with 
it  light,  knowledge,  sympathy  for  the  op- 
pressed, and  active  effort  in  their  behalf 

Another  historical  event  may  be  stated 
here,  having  a  direct  personal  influence  upon 
a  number  of  the  citizens  of  Round  Prairie, 
giving  a  keener  edge  to  their  sympathies  for 
the  oppressed,  and  to  their  feelings  against 
the   oppressor.      We    refer  to   the   capture^ 


Round  Prairie  and  PiymoiUh.       25  e 

and   confinement   in  the  Missouri   peniten- 
tiary, of  Alanson  Work,  James  E.  Burr  and 
George  Thompson,  on  the  charge  of  "  steal- 
ing slaves."     The  first  named  had  been,  for 
a    time,    a  well-known    resident    of   Round 
Prairie,  and   at  the  time  of  which  we  write^ 
residing  at  the  Mission  Institute,  near  Ouin- 
cy,  for  the  purpose  of  educating  his  children.. 
The    other   two   persons  were   young   men 
preparing  for  the  ministry,  the  latter,  George 
Thompson,   then    engaged,  and    afterwards 
married  to  a  daughter  of  Lamarcus  A.  Cook, 
of  this  place.     These  men  were  captured  on 
Missouri  soil,  arranging,  with  slaves  for  their 
escape  to   freedom  —  confessedly  an  act   of 
imprudence.     There  is  a  further  fact  to  be 
stated,  however :   viz.,  at   that  time,  and  for 
nearly  three  years  later,  there  was  no  law  in 
Missouri  designating  that  act  as  a  crime,  and 
consequently  no  penalty  provided  therefor  ; 
yet  these  men  were  tried,  and  sentenced  to- 
the    penitentiary   for   twelve   years.      They' 
were  pardoned   after  serving  the   following 
terms  respectively:  viz..   Work,  three  years, 
and  a  half;  Burr,  four  years  and  a  half;  and 
Thompson,  five  years. 

For    further    particulars    concerning   this, 
event,  the  reader  is  referred  to  "■  Prison  Life 
and    Recollectio7is,    by    George    Thompson,, 


2'52  A  History  of 

one  of  the  prisoners"  —  a  book  published 
in    1847. 

The  capture  of  these  men  occurred  in 
July,  1841.  Our  record  of  local  incidents 
•commences  at  about  the  same  time  and  ex- 
tends up  to  the  time  of  Lincoln's  Emanci- 
pation Proclamation,  January  1st,  1863. 

The  cases  cited  above  are  merely  illustra- 
tive of  the  thousands  of  incidents  that  added 
fuel  to  the  flame  of  anti-slavery  excitement 
ithroughout  the  entire  north.  An  important 
form  this  general  movement  took  on  in  par- 
ticular localities,  was  that  of  an  organized 
system  for  aiding  refugees  from  bondage  on 
their  way  to  a  land  of  freedom.  This  system 
was  designated  the  Underground  Railroad. 
The  secrecy  of  its  workings  justified  the 
;name.  It  is  too  late  now  to  judge  the  men 
who  carried  on  this  business,  by  the  then 
prevailing  standard  of  human  judgment. 
We  have  clearer  light,  and  in  that  light 
must  recognize  God's  plans,  and  the  instru- 
ments He  used  in  carrying  them  on. 

Much  complaint  was  made  by  pro-slavery 
men,  against  their  abolitionist  neighbors,  for 
bad  citizenship,  as  manifested  in  their  disre- 
gard of  the  requirements  of  the  slave  laws. 
While  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  charge 
contains  a  technical   truth,  as  viewed    in  a 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        25^ 

legal  light,  we  think  the  taunt  well  met  iir. 
the  answer  sometimes  made  to  it :  viz.,  "  That 
if,  in  the  free  State  of  Illinois,  men  and 
women,  guilty  of  no  crimes  save  wearing  a 
black  skin  that  God  gave  them,  and  a  love 
of  liberty,  were  permitted  to  enjoy  the  right 
of  passing  at  will,  by  day  or  night,  upon  our 
public  highways,  there  would  have  been  no 
just  cause  of  complaint.  But  while  such, 
persons  did  not  dare  to  show  themselves  in 
public  without  the  risk  —  aye,  certainty  —  of 
being  hunted  down  like  wild  beasts,  it  was- 
only  the  dictates  of  a  common  humanity  to- 
aid  them  in  their  journey  by  ways  concealed 
from  public  observation." 

Again,  this  work  was  deeply  imbedded  in 
religious  convictions,  and  warm,  earnest  hu- 
man sympathies  for  the  oppressed. 

The  work,  and  the  workers,  thus  imbued, 
were  invincible.  Human  laws  are  of  little 
avail  when  they  come  in  conflict  with  the 
higher  law,  and  with  human  sympathies. 

There  were  numerous  lines  of  the  U.  G. 
R.  R.  connectinof  the  border  slave  States, 
with  Canada,  working  independently  of  each 
other.  Some  were  thoroughly  organized 
and  efficiently  managed  ;  others  mere  ave- 
nues  over  which  passengers,  like  Pat  on  the 
towpath  of  the  canal,  worked  their  passage 


'^54  ^  History  of 

as  best  they  might.  Ours  was  a  first-class 
line.  Its  general  route  was  virtually  ap- 
proved by  its  adoption  by  the  great  corpo- 
ration now  known  as  the  C,  B.  and  O.  R.  R 
-connecting  the  central  metropolis  with  the 
southwest  and  west.  Its  track  was  more 
flexible  ;  deviating  sometimes  this  way,  and 
sometimes  the  other,  as  circumstances  re- 
quired, the  main  circumstance  being  the 
safety  of  the  freight.  The  transit  of  passen- 
gers by  the  U.  G.  R.  R.  through  the  free 
States  i^frce I  shall  we  write  it,  while  they 
•w^ere  bound  and  gagged  by  slave  laws  ? — 
well,  that  question,  also,  is  now  closed)  was 
always  a  precarious  one.  The  robbing  and 
•plundering  of  trains  was  frequent  then,  as  it 
is  now  —  profitable  also,  and  far  safer  then 
than  now.  Train  robbers  could  take  the 
plundered  property  back  to  the  consignors  — 
former  owners  —  and  reap  a  rich  money  re- 
ward, and  return  to  repeat  the  operation  as 
•often  as  they  found  the  opportunity  —  safe 
within  the  protecting  arms  of  the  law.  Hun- 
dreds along  the  line  stood  ready  to  avail 
themselves  of  such  facilities  for  plunder  and 
reward.  The  managers  of  the  U.  G.  R.  R. 
took  all  the  risks,  and  they  were  neither  few 
nor  small.  Railroadino-  under  such  circum- 
•stances  required  personal  sympathy  in  the 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply moiiih.        255 

business,  cool  judgment,  shrewdness  in  plan- 
ning, skill  in  executing,  and  pluck  to  meet 
•emergencies. 

Upon  the  line  of  which  we  write,  or  the 
■small  section  of  it  coming  within  our  imme- 
diate notice,  Ouincy  and  vicinity  was  the 
main  depot  upon  the  border;  Mendon, 
Augusta,  Plymouth,  Macomb,  Galesburg, 
and  other  points  beyond,  prominent  way- 
stations  upon  the  line,  with  side  tracks,  or 
deflections,  reaching  Laharpe,  Huntsville, 
and  intermediate  places,  to  be  used  as  ne- 
cessity required.  These  points  are  named 
as  indicating  the  general  course  of  the  U.  G. 
R.  R.  line,  and  not  as  fixing  precisely  the 
location  of  depots.  These  depots  were  pe- 
culiar in  their  character.  While  all  was 
plain  to  the  initiated,  the  Egyptians  might 
about  as  well  have  hunted  the  linch-pins  of 
their  crippled  chariots  in  the  darkness  and 
fog  of  their  night  march  into  the  Red  Sea, 
as  for  an  outsider  to  attempt  the  search  for 
freight  at  an  U.  G.  R.  R.  depot.  And  yet 
anybody  in  the  neighborhood  could  tell  him 
without  any  hesitation  the  names,  and  point 
out  the  residences  of  half-a-dozen  men  well 
known  as  prominent  U.  G.  railroad  men- 
These  depots  were  very  much  like  the  Irish- 
man's flea,  who  "  when  he  went  to  put   his 


256  yi   History  of 

finger  on  it,  found  it  wasn't  there,"  We 
might  name,  say,  half-a-score  of  places  on 
Round  Prairie  where  a  consig-nment  of  U' 
Cj.  freight  would  be  received,  or  put  in  the 
way  of  a  welcome  reception,  duly  cared  for^ 
and  forwarded  on  its  way  with  all  the  des- 
patch that  safety  to  the  freight  would  per- 
mit. These  names  were  as  well  known  then 
as  now ;  and  yet,  outsiders,  knowing  such 
freight  to  have  been  received,  almost  univer- 
sally found  the  search  for  it  to  be  a  fruitless 
effort. 

THROUGH    BY    DAYLIGHT. 

The   trains  on  the   U.  G.  usually  ran   at 

night,  but  not  always.     Conductor  Z had 

a  run  to  make  from  this  station  to  the  next,, 
with  a  consignment  consisting  of  a  negro- 
man,  his  wife  and  child.  His  skill  and  pluck 
were  equal  to  any  emergency,  and  his  plans, 
for  this  run  exhibited  both. 

He  hitched  up  his  team  one  morning 
for  the  trip,  got  the  negro  man  under  the 
seat  of  the  wagon  and  covered  him  so  as  to. 
conceal  him  thoroughly  from  view,  had  his. 
wife  wrap  the  negro  woman  in  such  of  her 
outside  wearing  apparel  as  was  best   known 

to  those  with  whom    Mrs.  Z frequented 

in  public,  and  with  her  face  well  covered  by 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       257' 

a  thick  veil,  Conductor  Z —  took  the  womart" 
with  her  child  in  arms,  on  the  seat  by  his- 
side,  and  drove  directly  into  Plymouth  — 
just  where  such  freight,  if  recognized,  would- 
have  been  quickly  captured  as  a  valuable 
prize,  stopped  in  front  of  the  post  office,  and 
went  in  for  his  mail,  leaving  his  team  in- 
charge   of   the  one  that    passers    by  would 

naturally   suppose   to   be    Mrs.  Z .     He 

chatted  with  the  bystanders   in   and   about 
the  office  in  his  familiar  and  jovial  way,  as- 
he  often  does  yet,  apparently  in   no   hurry, 
until  the  social  interchanges  were  exhausted, 
then  he  resumed  his  seat  in  the  wagon  and 
drove  leisurely  out  of  town,  and  made  his- 
run    to    Laharpe    early    in    the    afternoon. 
Knowing  the  risk  of  making  a  delivery  of 
such  freight  by  daylight  without  a  previous 
knowledge  that  the  way  was  clear,  he    left 
his  load   in  a  cornfield  near  his  destination,- 
and  went  on  alone  to  report  his  trip  to  the 
agent   at    Laharpe.      The   man   was   absent 
from  the  house,  and   there  was  considerable 
delay  in   seeing  him.      When   the   arrange- 
ments were  completed  for  the   reception   of 
the  dusky  guests,  Z —  went  back  to  the  corn- 
field to  bring  them  in,  but   found  they  were 
gone ;    yet    they   could    be    readily   tracked- 
over  the   soft  ground.     Following  the  trail 


258  A  History  of 

"he  had  not  gone  far  when  he  noticed  the 
negro  down  close  to  the  ground,  drawing  a 
bead   on    him   with   a   revolver.      "  Halloo  ! 

Ginger;    what  are  you  about  there  !"Z 

shouted  hastily.  Recognizing  the  voice,  the 
negro  came  forward  to  explain.     The  delay 

in  Z 's    return   had    excited    the   negro's 

suspicions  that  something  was  going  wrong, 
and  he  had  taken  his  wife  and  child  away 
and  concealed  them,  and  was  now  back  on 
his  trail  to  defend  them  and  himself.  He 
-said  that  after  all  he  had  gone  through  to 
make  his  escape  with  his  family,  it  was  too 
late  to  think  of  beine  taken  back  alive. 
This  man's  story,  if  wrought  up  by  as  skill- 
ful hands,  would  match,  in  thrilling  interest, 
some  of  Mrs.  Stowe's  most  powerful  pictures 
in  "  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin." 

As  an  illustration  of  the  motives  that 
led  thousands  to  escape  from  the  border 
States,  we  give  a  condensed  narrative  of  this 
man's  experience  for  about  a  year  previous 
to  the  time  at  which  we  leave  him  and  his 
family  safe  at  Laharpe. 

ginger's  story. 

Mr.  Z —  has  incidentally  furnished  a  name 
for  our  hero.  Ginger,  WVt.  a  great  majority  of 
.his  fellows  in  the  border  States,  where  slave- 


Round  Prah'ie  and  Plymouth.       259 

ry  prevailed  in  a  much  milder  form  than 
further  south,  was  not  over-worked,  under- 
fed, or  subjected  to  great  abuse.  In  fact, 
his  social  and  physical  condition,  in  most 
respects,  would  differ  but  little  from  that  of 
the  ordinary  laborer  of  the  north.  He  and 
his  class  of  people  might  have  been  tolerably 
liappy  and  contented  in  their  condition,  but 
for  the  constant  apprehension  of  being  sold 
to  southern  slave  traders,  and  thus  separated 
from  home,  friends,  and  everything  they  held 
dear.  Love  for  these  things  is  not  to  be 
measured  by  the  color  of  the  skin,  but  lies 
deep  down  in  every  true  human  heart.  To 
the  border  state  bondman,  being  sold  to  go 
south  was  dreaded  next  to,  and  in  many 
cases  even  more,  than  death.  This  terror 
was  kept  fresh  in  their  minds  by  its  frequent 
occurrence.  Did  a  slave-holder  get  in  a 
strait  for  money,  from  any  cause  whatever, 
the  sale  of  a  likely  negro  or  tv/o  afforded 
ready  relief,  and  was  resorted  to  with  as 
little  hesitation  as  a  northern  farmer  would 
sell  a  surplus  horse  or  pig  for  a  similar 
reason. 

Ginger's  fears  had  been  excited  by  the 
fact  that  a  cousin  of  his  had  recently  been 
sold  and  sent  south.  And  now  the  dread 
fact  was  brought  to  his  knowledge  that  he 


26o  A  History  of 

too  was  sold,  and  within  two  weeks  was  to 
be  delivered,  to  the  dreaded  slave  trader^ 
This  fact  his  master  was  anxious  to  keep 
from  him  ;  but  by  a  thorough  system  of 
espionage  by  the  slaves  over  their  masters^ 
they  managed  to  get  a  knowledge  of  most 
of  their  plans,  which  were  readily  communi- 
cated to  each  other. 

Ginger  quickly  devised  a  plan  of  his  own^ 
which  he  greatly  preferred  to  the  one  made 
for  him  by  his  master.  Bidding  his  wife  and 
inlant  child  a  hasty  farewell,  he  made  his 
way  safely  to  the  north.  Here  he  spent 
nearly  a  year;  and  finding  the  freedom  and 
immunities  of  his  changed  condition  sa 
agreeable,  as  compared  with  the  risks  of 
slavery,  he  determined  to  return  to  Missouri 
and  get  his  wife  and  child,  that  they  might 
enjoy  freedom  together.  He  had  also  a 
friend  that  he  wished  to  help  away  if  he 
could  —  a  crippled  negro  that  he  thought 
would  enjoy  freedom  as  well  as  himself.. 
Gingrer's  mission  was  one  of  orreat  risk  and 
danger,  but  his  love  was  stronger  than  his 
fears  ;  he  determined  to  accomplish  it  or  die 
in  the  attempt. 

Communication  with  and  throuorh  the 
colored  people  was  easy  and  usually  safe^ 
Keeping    himself   in    concealment,   he    sent 


Round  Prairie  and  Ply  mo  III  Ii.       261 

word  to  his  crippled  friend  to  meet  him  at 
a  specified  time  and  place  in  the  woods,  to 
make  their  plans  for  the  exodus,  to  which 
the  cripple  signified  his  assent. 

At  the  appointed  time,  Ginger,  without 
yet  revealing  himself,  was  on  a  sharp  look- 
out for  his  friend.  In  the  distance  he  saw  a 
negro  approaching.  As  he  came  nearer,  it 
was  evident  that  he  lacked  the  limping  gait 
of  the  expected  friend  ;  then  other  parties 
.appeared  in  different  directions,  and  Ginger 
saw  that  he  was  betrayed  and  a  trap  set  for 
his  capture.  He  fled  like  a  hunted  deer, 
and  when  the  guard  closed  in,  the  game  was 
gone.  Bloodhounds  were  called  into  requi- 
sition to  follow  the  trail,  and  hot  pursuit 
was  made  for  a  distance  of  five  miles. 

By  running  some  distance  in  the  streams 
on  his  way,  and  other  devices  for  foiling  the 
doofs  and  throwing  them  off  his  trail,  Gino^er 
finally  eluded  his  pursuers  and  made  good 
his  escape.  His  presence  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  his  errand  there,  being  now  fully 
known,  extreme  caution  was  necessary  in 
all  his  future  movements.  Keen  strategy 
was  displayed  by  both  parties  —  by  his  pur- 
suers to  entrap  and  capture  him,  and  by 
Ginger  to  evade  the  snare,  and  secure  an 
interview  with  his  wife,  which  as  yet  he  had 


262  A  History  of 

been  unable  to  effect.  Hoping  to  draw  him 
into  a  trap,  Ginger's  wife  was  sent  out  to  a 
stream  in  the  woods  to  do  a  job  of  washing,, 
and  was  kept  there  for  several  days  under  a 
concealed  guard,  expecting  Ginger  would 
improve  the  opportunity  for  an  interview. 
This  trap  proved  too  transparent ;  Ginger 
kept  at  a  safe  distance  from  it.  The  master 
then  sent  the  woman  out  of  the  neiehbor- 
hood,  several  miles  away,  hoping  thus  to 
throw  Ginger  off  her  track,  and  at  least  save 
her,  if  he  could  not  capture  him.  Faithful 
friends,  however,  kept  him  informed  of  her 
whereabouts,  and  soon  again  he  was  watch- 
ing with  eagle  eyes  her  routine  of  work,  and 
calculating  the  chances  it  afforded  for  the 
much  desired  interview. 

One  evening  while  she  was  milking  the 
cows.  Ginger  crept  upon  his  belly  for  eighty 
rods  across  a  meadow  through  the  grass,  to 
get  near  the  milk  house,  where  she  must 
come  with  the  milk,  some  distance  from  the 
family  residence.  To  his  dismay,  when  she 
came,  there  was  another  woman  with  her,. 
and  also  the  house  dog,  which  had  nothing 
to  do  but  snuff  around  until  it  stumbled 
upon  Ginger  in  his  hiding  place,  when  it  set 
up  such  an  alarm,  that  a  hasty  retreat  was 
Ginger's  only  alternative. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plynjioiith.       26 


o 


Fortunately,  he  again  made  good  his  es- 
cape from  pursuit.  His  wife  was  moved  to 
still  another  neighborhood,  and  a  closer 
watch  kept  upon  her  movements.  Here 
Ginger's  eye  was  soon  upon  her  and  her 
surroundings  again,  taking  in  the  opportuni- 
ties for  the  interview  and  escape.  He  found 
that  she  was  confined  at  night  in  a  room 
upon  the  ground  floor,  from  which  she  could 
only  be  got  out  through  the  window.  Im- 
mediately over  her  room,  in  the  second  story 
was  another,  where  two  men  were  kept  on 
guard  all  night.  Their  window,  directly 
over  hers,  was  kept  open,  so  that,  by  leaning 
out  occasionally  as  they  sat  by  it,  they  could 
see  if  anything  went  wrong  below. 

The  attempt  to  see  his  wife,  and  get  her 
away,  under  such  circumstances,  was  despe- 
rately dangerous,  and  yet  Ginger  determined 
to  take  the  risk. 

He  noticed  that  the  guard  by  the  upper 
window  were  apparently  playing  cards,  and 
evidently  interested  in  the  game.  This  was 
favorable  to  his  plans.  Approaching  the 
house  at  the  rear,  he  crawled  around  the 
corner  on  hands  and  knees  to  the  window, 
where  he  attracted  the  attention  of  his  wife 
by  a  very  slight  signal.  Through  a  broken 
window  light  the  escape  was  quickly  planned. 


264  A   History  of 

^y  their  united  effort  the  window  was  quietly 
-raised  ;  the  sleeping  child,  now  about  a  year 
-old,  was  passed  out  to  its  father,  followed  by 
the  mother,  and  creeping  around  the  corner 
•unobserved,  they  made  their  way  to  the  barn, 
took  the  best  horse  they  could  find,  mounted, 
and  rode,  that  night,  to  the  Mississippi  river. 
The  horse  was  turned  loose  to  make  its  way 
home  as  best  it  might,  while  they  concealed 
themselves  until  another  night  should  afford 
-the  opportunity  of  crossing  the  river. 
Through  the  day.  Ginger,  from  his  place  of 
.concealment,  watched  the  movements  of  a 
man  plying  a  skiff,  for  the  purpose  of  learning 
how  to  manage  it  —  an  art  that  as  yet  he  did 
not  understand.  Night  came  ;  Ginger  took 
the  skiff  and  managed  to  work  it  across  the 
river  with  his  precious  freight,  but  not  with- 
out discovery  and  hot  pursuit,  that  came 
near  wrecking  all  his  fond  hopes  just  as  they 
had  reached — we  were  about  to  write,  free- 
.dom's  shore.  That,  however,  would  be  more 
poetic  than  truthful.  There  were  yet  many 
■weary,  dangerous  stages  in  the  journey,  be- 
fore they  could  feel  themselves  safe  upon 
freedom's  shore. 

With  the  remark  that  all  these  dangers 
-were  safely  passed,  we  take  our  leave  of 
(Ginger  and  his   familv,  feeling  that  he  was 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        265 

about  right  in  saying  to  Mr.  Z — ,  after  draw- 
ing his  revolver  upon  him  in  the  cornfield  at 
Laharpe,  that  "  It  is  too  late  now,  sir,  to 
think  of  going  back  to  Missouri   alive." 

A    COLLISION TRAIN    ROBBERY. 

The  U.  G,  R.  R.  was  subject  to  accidents, 
as  well  as  other  lines  of  railroad.  Serious 
collisions  sometimes  occurred,  resulting,  as 
such  things  usually  do,  from  a  variety  of 
causes.  Sometimes  confidence  was  mis- 
placed, and  a  traitor  admitted  to  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  mysteries  of  the  management, 
and  allowed  to  take  a  hand  in  the  running 
of  trains.  Such  employes  were  well  calcu- 
lated to  make  a  "mess"  of  things,  as  the 
following  illustration  will  show  : 

i\  consignment  had  been  received  at 
Augusta  late  in  the  summer  of  1849,  consist- 
ing of  two  large,  stout  negro  men,  and  a 
slender  mulatto  boy  of  18  or  20  years.  The 
boy  had  been  a  steward  on  a  Mississippi 
river  steamer.  Augusta  was  well  supplied 
with  skillful,  prudent  managers  of  their  U. 
G.  depot ;  but,  unfortunately,  one  of  the 
class  above  described  had  ingratiated  him- 
self  into  thqir  confidence,  and  had  been  used 
several  times  successfully  in  the  running  of 
trains.  This  consignment  had  been  placed 
18 


266  A     History  of 

in  his  care  some  distance  out  of  town.  It 
was  a  valuable  lot  of  freight.  The  respect- 
ive owners  of  the  negroes  had  offered  $ioo 
each  for  their  safe  return  to  Hannibal,  Mis- 
souri. This  was  a  tempting  bait.  The  trai- 
tor determined  to  improve  the  opportunity, 
and  made  his  arrangements  accordingly. 
Three  determined  men  were  let  into  the 
secret,  and  given  timely  notice  for  the  neces- 
sary preparations. 

Resistance  was  expected,  as  the  negroes 
were  armed  with  dirks  and  heavy  clubs. 
One  of  the  party  went  into  the  fray  on  prin- 
ciple (?),  like  Pat  into  the  free  fight  at  the 
fair,  for  a  "  bit  of  sport."     This  man  we  shall 

call  Mr.  A — ,  the  other  two  B and  C . 

The  leader  we  may  as  well  call  Judas  for 
convenience,  the  missing  link  in  the  appro- 
priateness of  the  name  being  the  fact  that 
he  has  not  yet  "went  and  hanged  himself." 
The  arrangement  made  with  the  negroes 
was  that  a  night  run  should  be  made,  from 
their  place  of  concealment  on  Nubbin  Ridge 
to  Macomb,  the  negroes  to  go  on  foot,  led 
by  a  young  man  of  the  regular  U.  G.  force, 
whom  we  shall  call  Mr.  D — .  He  was  acting 
in  good  faith,  but  had  been  decoyed  into  this 
movement  by  Judas,  as  a  blind,  to  help  con- 
ceal its  real  character. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       267 

Judas  was  to  go  with  the  party  to  see 
them  safely  across  Crooked  Creek  at  the 
Lamoin  bridge,  as  this  was  the  only  point  at 
which  any  danger  of  an  attack  upon  the 
train  might  be  apprehended,  if  a  knowledge 
of  its  passage  had  by  any  means  leaked  out. 
From  this  point  he  was  to  return  home. 

The  eventful  night  came.  The  attacking 
party  proceeded  to  the  bridge,  but  came 
near  breaking  up  on  the  way,  because  an  old 
man  who  had  been  informed  of  the  situation 
by  one  of  their  number,  insisted  on  going  in 
with  them.  Two  of  the  party  were  deter- 
mined he  should  have  nothing  to  do  with  it, 
or  they  would  not.  It  was  finally  agreed 
that  the  old  man  should  stay  out.  The 
three  went  on  and  concealed  themselves  at 
the  north  end  of  the  bridge  to  await  the  ar- 
rival of  the  train.     Judas  led  the  train  to  the 

bridge,  Mr.  D bringing  up  the   rear  on 

horseback,  carrying  the  meager  baggage  of 
the  negroes.  The  negroes  had  been  warned 
by  Judas  that  this  was  the  dangerous  place 
in  their  journey ;  and  now  he  advised  that 
if  attacked,  they  fight  their  way  through  if 
possible ;  but  if  compelled  to  retreat,  they 
make  their  way  back  to  his  house  as  speed- 
ily as  possible.  With  this  advice  he  left 
them  to  make  their  way  across  as  best  they 


268  A  History  of 

mieht.     When   near  the   north   end   of  the 

bridge  they  were  confronted  by  A ,  B 

and  C ,  and  ordered  to  surrender.     This 

was  the  signal  for  a  lively  fight,  during  which 
Judas  hid  himself  under  the  bridge,  out  of 

harm's    way.      Mr.     D ,    surprised    and 

alarmed,  turned  his  horse  and  made  lively 
time  towards  home.  In  the  mean  time  the 
old  man,  who  had  determined  to  be  in  on 
his  "  own  hook,"  if  not  by  consent  of  parties, 
and  have  a  share  in  the  spoils,  had  fallen 
into  line  in  rear  of  the  train,  and  now  ap- 
peared on  the  field  in  the  nick  of  time.  The 
result  of  the  fight  at  the  north  end  of  the 
bridge  was  that  the  mulatto  boy  surren- 
dered, leaving  the  odds  too  heavy  against 
the  remaining  two  negroes,  who  beat  a  re- 
treat. They  were  met  at  the  south  end  by 
the  old  man,  who  ordered  a  halt.  This  was 
answered  by  a  terrific  blow  from  the  club  of 
one  of  the  negroes,  that  broke  the  old  man's 
gun  short  off  at  the  breech,  cut  his  ear,  and 
felled  him  full  length  on  the  floor  of  the 
bridge.  As  he  fell  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh ! 
Lord  !  I'm  killed !"  Mr.  C— ,  who  had  done 
his  best  to  keep  the  old  man  out  of,  and 
away  from  the  "scrape,"  came  up  at  this 
moment  and  congratulated  him  on  the 
happy  announcement  he  had  just  made,  by 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymonth.       269 

saying,  "  I  hope  It  is  true."  The  gun  un- 
doubtedly had  saved  the  old  man's  life  by 
breaking  the  force  of  the  blow.  As  it  was> 
he  was  stunned  and  frightened,  but  not  se- 
riously hurt.       B bound   up  his   bruised 

head ;    and   then,   as   the   two    negroes   had 
made  their  escape,  there  was  nothing  more 
to  do  but  gather  up  the  results  of  the  raid,, 
consisting  of  the  mulatto  boy,  the  wounded 
man,  and  the  party,  and  return  home.     The 
trip  was  not  altogether  pleasant.     Their  ex- 
pectations were  only  very  partially  realized,, 
and    considerable    risks    had    been     taken. 
They  were  cast  down,  but   not   utterly  dis- 
couraged ;   they  still  had  hopes  of  capturing 
the  other  two  men,  based  upon  their  expect- 
ation that  they  would  act  upon  Judas' advice 
to  return  to  his   house.     Plans  were   made 
accordingly  for  the  completion  of  the  job  the 
next  night.     With  these  plans,  however,  A — 
announced  that  he  would  have  nothing  to  do. 
Avarice  was  not  his  ruling  passion  ;  he  had 
entered   into  the  scheme   from   his   natural 
reckless,  daring  love  of  adventure,  and  did 
his  first  hard  thinkinof  on  the  moralitv  and 
humanity  of  the  affair  on  the  way  home  that 
night  after  the  fray.     He  was   not  long  in 
reaching  conclusions  that  would  class  himi  as 
a  staunch  "  abolitionist ;"  and  he  proved  his 


2/0  A  History  of 

faith  by  making  a  fruitless  effort,  the  next 
day,  to  find  the  two  escaped  negroes  to  warn 
them  of  the  impending  danger  that  night. 

The  sequel  to  this  story  may  be  briefly 
told.  The  two  negroes,  not  suspecting  the 
treachery  of  their  leader,  returned  as  ad- 
vised, were  captured  and  taken  with  the 
mulatto  boy  to  Hannibal,  by  the  old  man 
and  Judas,  who  received  the  offered  reward. 
The  old  man  assuming  the  position  of  cash- 
ier for  the  party,  kept  the  lion's  share  for 
himself 

The  member  of  the  party  to  whom  the 
mulatto  boy  surrendered,  received  less  than 
fifteen  dollars  for  his  share  in  the  transac- 
tion, and  the  last  installment  of  this  amount 
was  squeezed  out  of  the  old  man  under  the 
moral  pressure  of  a  revolver,  that  demanded 
a  fair  share  of  the  plunder,  or  the  alternative 
of  having  daylight  let  into  his  carcass.  Upon 
this  gentle  persuasion,  the  old  man  emptied 
his  pocket,  containing  five  silver  half-dollars. 

A    FORTUNATE    BLUNDER. 

It  was  often  thought  best  to  start  out  a 
train  on  the  U.  G.  R.  R.  by  daylight ;  in  fact' 
day  trains  were  less  liable  to  suspicion,  if  con- 
ducted with  due  caution,  than  night  trains, but 
the  reception  of  a  consignment  by  daylight 


Rou7id  Prairie  a7id  Plyinoiith.       271 

was  ordinarily  extra-hazardous.  We  give 
an  incident  or  two  to  show  that  sometimes 
this  extra-risk,  in  reality,  proved  to  be  the 
only  safeguard  against  detection  and  expo- 
sure. It  was  thought  that  important  discov- 
eries and  captures  might  be  made  if  a  watch 
was  kept  upon  the  premises  of  Mr.  W — ,  and 
for  a  considerable  time  his  residence  was 
under  close  scrutiny  at  night,  without  any 
knowledge  of  the  fact  on  his  part,  the  guard 
going  on  duty  at  dark,  and  off  at  daylight. 
During  this  time  a  covered  carriage  from 

Mendon  drove  up  to  Mr.  W s  house  one 

afternoon,  say  two  hours  before  dark,  con- 
taining the  driver  and  a  lady  friend  of  his 
upon  the  front  seat.  Back  of  this,  concealed 
under  the  cover,  was  a  negro  woman  and 
two  children  of  about  seven  and  twelve 
years  respectively.  These  Mr.  W —  was 
expected  to  care  for  and  forward.  He  was 
surprised  that  any  driver  in  his  senses  should 
bring  a  consignment  of  negroes  to  his  place 
in  daylight,  exposed  as  it  was  to  public  ob- 
servation ;  and  with  a  pretty  sharp  reproof, 
and  warning  not  to  repeat  such  an  act  of 
supposed  imprudence,  the  driver  was  dis- 
missed. No  hesitation  in  meetintr  an  emer- 
gency  was  allowable  with  the  true  U.  G.  R 
R.  man,  and  Mr.  W.  was  ready  to   make  the 


272  A  Histoj^y  of 

best  of  this.  The  colored  woman  and  chil- 
dren were  promptly  placed  in  the  garret 
over  the  kitchen,  duly  cared  for,  and  at  the 
earliest  favorable  opportunity  sent  in  care 
of  a  trusty  conductor  to  Macomb. 

LOST STEPPING   "DOWN    AND    OUT." 

On  another  occasion,  three  negro  men, 
well  armed  with  rifles,  who  had  started  out 
upon  the  trip,  determined  not  to  be  taken 
back  alive,  had  arrived  at  Augusta.  From 
there  they  started,  one  night,  piloted  by  a 
young  man  of  the  Augusta  U.  G.  force,  for 
the  house  of  Mr.  W.  at  Plymouth.  For 
greater  safety  they  went  on  foot,  keeping 
away  from  the  road,  and  under  cover  of  the 
woods  and  underbrush.  In  the  darkness  of 
the  night  they  lost  their  way  and  wandered 
about  all  night  in  a  fruitless  effort  to  reach 
their  destination.  Daylight  revealed  his 
bearings  to  the  guide,  and  an  hour  later  the 
party  reached  Mr.  W — 's,  a  weary,  forlorn 
company.  This  party  was  taken  to  the 
woods,  concealed  and  cared  for  three  days, 
before  it  was  thought   prudent   to   attempt 

another  stage  in   their  journey.     Mr.  X 

undertook  to  conduct  them  to  Macomb. 
That  station,  like  this,  was  widely  scattered, 
having   places    for   the    reception    of   U.  G. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        273 

freight  at  various  points  and  distances  from 
town.     To  one  of  the  more  distant  of  these 

Mr.  X directed  his  course.     When  near 

his  destination,  in  passing  through  a  strip  of 
woods,  he  saw  some  men  in  the  road,  some 
distance  ahead,  that  he  at  once  suspected  of 
being  on  the  lookout  for  just  such  freight  as 
he  carried.  Giving  the  negroes  a  hint,  they 
quickly  and  quietly  stepped  "down  and  out" 
in  the  rear,  and  took  to  the  woods,  appar- 
ently undiscovered.  His  wagon  then  pre- 
senting no  appearance  of  concealed  freight, 
X —  drove  on,  passed  the  men,  and  reported 
the  situation  to  the  proper  party  at  the  de- 
pot. By  means  of  a  concerted  signal  sys- 
tem, the  negroes  were  readily  found,  when 
wanted,  duly  cared  for,  and  properly  for- 
warded. 

GOING    TO    MARKET. 

At  one  time  Mr.  W.  had  a  ne^ro  man  in 
his  charge  that  he  determined  to  take  to 
Macomb  in  an  open  wagon,  his  only  convey- 
ance, and  make  most  of  the  trip  by  daylight. 
He  filled  a  lot  of  sacks  with  light  chaff  from 
the  barn  floor,  put  some  hay  in  the  bottom 
of  the  wagon,  upon  which  he  had  the  negro 
lie  down  at  full  length,  and  then  piled  the 
bogus  sacks  of  grain  upon  him,  until  he  was 


2  74  ^  History  of 

■completely  covered.  Taking  his  wife  with 
him,  he  started,  about  noon,  for  Macomb, 
leaving  any  curious  observers  to  infer  —  if 
they  chose  to  make  inferences  —  that  they 
were  bound  for  market  with  a  load  of  grain, 
on  a  trading  expedition.  All  went  well 
until  they  got  a  little  beyond  Crooked 
Creek,  which  they  crossed  at  Lamoin  bridge. 
Here  they  met  three  men  on  horseback. 
Just  as  they  were  nearing  each  other,  Mr. 
W —  looked  around  to  see  if  his  load  ap- 
peared all  right.  To  his  dismay  he  found 
that  the  negro,  weary  of  his  constrained  po- 
sition, had  drawn  up  one  foot  so  that  his 
knee  protruded  between  the  sacks.  At  a 
quick  nudge,  the  knee  disappeared,  leaving 
a  fair  surface  again  ;  but  the  movement  had 
•evidently  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
horsemen.  The  load  was  closely  scanned 
.as  they  passed  ;  they  stopped  their  horses, 
turned  around,  watched  sharply  awhile  ;  but 
failing  to  see  any  more  suspicious  move- 
ments among  the  sacks,  and  not  compre- 
hending what  they  had  seen,  they  resumed 
their  course  and  rode  on. 

The  negro  got  a  sharp  reproof  for  the 
danger  incurred  by  his  exposure,  as  Mr. 
W —  drove  on  in  a  state  of  mind  consider- 
ably excited  by  the  narrow  escape.     As  ex- 


Round  Prairie  mid  Plymouth.       275 

pected,  night  overtook  them  before  reaching 
their  destination.  In  the  darkness  they 
came  upon  a  piece  of  road  that  had  been 

changed   lately.      Mr.  W was   at  a  loss 

which  way  to  go,  took  the  wrong  road,  and 
got  hopelessly  lost.  There  was  no  remedy 
but  to  inquire  the  way  the  first  opportunity, 
and  this  was  about  the  last  thing  he  wanted 
to  do,  as  the  man  he  was  looking  for  was 
well  known  as  a  prominent  U.  G.  R.  R.  man, 
and  inquiries  for  him  might  lead  to  sus- 
picions and  revelations  that  would  be  very 
undesirable.  Something  must  be  done, 
however,  so  he  went  to  the  first  house  he 
saw,   and    roused   the    man    from    bed    and 

asked    the    way    to    Mr.   .      The    man 

seemed  interested,  came  out  in  the  yard  to 
point  out  the  way,  and  went  towards  the 
wagon  just  as  he  had  got  out  of  bed.  Hop- 
ing to  check  his  curiosity,  Mr.  W —  told  him 
that  his  wife  was  in  the  wagon  ;  but  the  man 
went  on  to  the  gate,  gave  the  necessary  di- 
rections and  then  retired. 

The  consignment  was  safely  delivered  at 
its  destination,  notwithstanding  the  real  and 
supposed  narrow  escapes  of  the  trip.  It 
turned  out  that  the  curiosity  and  interest  of 
the  man  that  Mr.  W —  called  up  for  inform- 
tion  as  to  the  way,  was  not  of  a  dangerous 


276  A  History  of 

kind,  as  he  was  the  son  of  the  man  for  whom 
Mr.  W —  sought,  and  suspecting  the  nature 
of  his  mission,  very  kindly  interested  himself 
in  pointing  out  the  way  to  his  father  s  house, 

DISCOVERY A    NARROW    ESCAPE. 

Strong  proof  of  the  efficiency  with  which 
this  part  of  the  U.  G.  R.  R.  line  was  man- 
aged, is  furnished  in  the  fact  that  no  con- 
signment of  living  freight  that  had  been 
regularly  placed  in  charge  of  the  agents  of 
the  line  was  ever  lost  in  transit  and  taken 
back  to  Missouri,  except  the  single  instance 
already  detailed,  resulting  from  the  treachery 
of  an  emplo^'e. 

One  of  the  narrowest  escapes  may  be 
recorded  of  a  party  taken  by  Mr.  X —  from 
this  place  to  Macomb.  Before  reaching  his 
destination  —  an  out-station  there  —  he  stop- 
ped his  team  in  the  timber,  and  went  with 
his  party  on  foot,  across  lots  and  through 
by-ways  to  conceal  the  movement  from  ob- 
servation. He  reached  the  house  and  deliv- 
ered his  consignment,  as  he  supposed,  undis- 
covered. Returning  to  his  waggon,  he  was 
overhauled  by  a  party  of  men  who  asked 
where  he  had  been,  and  what  his  business 
there  was,  and  demanded  that  he  make  a 
"  clean  breast  "  of  it,  and  tell  them  the  num- 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        277 

ber  of  negroes,  and  the  time  they  were  ex- 
pected to  start  on  their  next  stage  in  the 
journey;  "for,"  said  they,  "we  mean  to  have 
them  anyhow."  They  found  Mr.  X —  appa- 
rently very  ignorant  as  to  facts,  and  uncom- 
municative. Hoping  to  frighten  him  into 
such  revelations  as  they  wished  to  have  him 
make,  they  claimed  him  as  their  prisoner, 
and  threatened  to  take  him  to  Macomb  and 
put  him  in  jail.  Knowing  that  they  could 
have  no  warrant  for  his  arrest,  he  took  the 
matter  coolly  and  parleyed  with  them  until 
they  were  satisfied  they  could  get  no  inform- 
ation from  him,  when  they  allowed  him  to 
pass.  Thinking  it  unwise  for  him  to  at- 
tempt to  return  and  warn  the  agent  of  the 
discovery,  X —  hurried  home,  arriving  at  an 
•early  hour  in  the  morning.  He  went  imme- 
diately to  Mr.  Z — 's,  told  him  the  situation, 
and  advised  that  he  go  to  Macomb  at  once 
and  notify  the  agent  of  his  danger.  This 
was  promptly  done,  and  by  noon  the  agent 
was  posted  so  that  he  could  make  such  plans 
as  he  might  to  escape  the  trap  that  he  now 
knew  would  be  set  for  him  and  the  neeroes 
in  his  care.  He  attempted  a  ruse  to  throw 
the  hunters  off  the  track.  Taking  his  waggon 
to  the  barn  early  in  the  night,  he  had  the 
cover  fixed  upon  it,  threw  in  some  sacks  of 


278  A  History  of 

grain  or  chaff,  and  had  one  of  his  men  drive 
off  as  though  he  was  in  a  great  hurry  to  get 
somewhere  very  soon.  Shortly  after  the 
wagon  left,  the  agent  started  with  the  ne- 
groes on  foot,  in  another  direction,  and 
across  lots,  hoping  the  pursuers  would  fol- 
low, or  try  to  intercept  the  wagon.  In  this 
he  was  deceived.  The  ruse  they  had  seen 
through,  and  now  he  found  them  on  his 
track.  In  the  attempt  to  capture  the  ne- 
groes they  all  escaped  but  one,  and  while 
his  captors  were  on  the  way  to  Macomb  with 
their  prisoner  he  managed  to  make  good  his 
escape. 

As  the  result  of  this  affair,  the  agent  at 
Macomb  was  considerably  annoyed  by  the 
prospect  of  a  prosecution  that  threatened  to 
grow  out  of  it,  but  we  are  not  aware  that 
any  serious  inconvenience  was  ever  suffered 
by  him  as  a  consequence  of  it. 

BIG    HAUL A    WORTHLESS    NEGRO    CAPTURED. 

We  introduce  a  little  incident  here,  that 
is  worthy  of  record  only  because  of  the  es- 
sential meanness  of  some  of  the  transactions 
connected  with  it,  and  as  showing  that  such 
meanness  sometimes  meets  a  fitting  reward^ 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  say, 
that  the  whole  history  of  slave  hunting  in 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        2  79 

and  about  Round  Prairie  furnishes  a  good 
illustration  of  the  usual  result  of  doing  the 
devil's  dirty  work.  Large  pay  is  promised 
as  the  inducement,  but  valuable  receipts  are 
exceedingly  small. 

A  negro  man  with  more  self-confidence 
than  judgment,  determined  to  attempt  a 
passage  over  the  U.  G.  R.  R.  line  "  on  his 
own  hook."  His  plan  seemed  to  indicate 
that  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.  was  his  guide  as- 
to  route,  to  the  line  of  which  he  kept  as  close 
as  he  dared.  Starting  without  any  knowl- 
edge of  where  to  find  friends  on  the  way,, 
when  hungry  he  ventured  into  houses  at 
random  to  ask  for  food.  Early  in  his  jour- 
ney he  stumbled  among  enemies  in  this  way,. 
who  came  near  capturing  and  returning  him 
to  Missouri.  The  mishap  broke  his  self- 
confidence  completely;  yet  lacking  the  neces- 
sary knowledge,  he  avoided  both  friends  and 
foes  as  far  as  possible,  and  suffered  greatly 
in  consequence.  The  weather  was  cold,  and 
he  laid  out  in  the  woods  at  nicrht  until  his 
feet  were  badly  frozen.  He  passed  through 
Round  Prairie  without  finding  any  of  the 
many  friends  who  would  gladly  have  relieved 
his  wants  and  helped  him  on  his  way,  reached 
Colmar  at  night,  when  his  sufferings  drove 
him  to  seek  help.     He  approached  a  house 


28o  A  History  of 

and  was  received  with  apparent  kindness, 
invited  in,  offered  food  and  shelter,  which 
were  gladly  accepted. 

Durinor  the  niorht  a  messeno-er  came  over 
to  Plymouth  and  informed  a  couple  of  men 
(3f  the  situation,  who,  armed  with  guns,  went 
over  and  succeeded  in  capturing  the  poor 
starved  and  crippled  negro.  This  brave  act 
accomplished,  and  not  being  ready  to  start 
at  once  with  their  captive  to  Missouri,  they 
arranged,  it  is  said,  with  one  party  to  provide 
for  him,  and  with  another  to  guard  him, 
promising  each  $25  for  their  services,  to  be 
paid  out  of  the  expected  reward.  The  ne- 
gro told  his  captors  where  and  to  whom  he 
belonored. 

On  reaching  their  destination  with  the 
captive,  and  delivering  him  to  his  master, 
they  learned,  to  their  great  disgust,  that  the 
runaway  had  not  been  missed  ;  that  if  he  had 
been  no  great  effort  would  have  been  made 
for  his  recovery;  no  reward  was,  or  would 
have  been  offered  for  him;  and  that  none 
would  now  be  paid.  They  succeeded,  how- 
ever, in  getting  enough  from  the  master  to 
pay  their  actual  traveling  expenses,  and  re- 
turned with  earnest  meditation,  no  doubt, 
upon  the  uncertainty  of  human  events.  For 
information  as  to  whether  those  claims  for 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       281 

services,  at  Colmar,  have  yet  been  paid,  ap- 
plication should  be  made  to  the  proper  par-  • 
ties  there. 

TRUE    MANHOOD. 

In  marked  contrast  with  the  preceding, 
we  eive  another  incident  showing  how  a  true 
manhood  rises  above  all  petty  considerations 
of  politics  or  personal  self-interest,  and  rec- 
ognizes the  rights  of  man  without  regard  to 
the  color  of  his  skin.  It  had  been  well  if 
more  of  his  political  associates  could  have 
learned  the  lesson  he  tauQ^ht  —  that  free  men 
were  under  no  moral  obligation  to  lower 
themselves  to  the  plane  of  blood-hounds 
and  engage  in  hunting  down  negroes  like 
wild  beasts. 

In  all  the  incidents  given  we  have  with- 
held the  names  of  the  living,  and  of  those 
engaged  in  any  transactions  that  might  be 
considered  questionable  in  their  character ; 
but  as  he  has  passed  beyond  the  reach  of 
praise  or  censure,  by  friend  or  foe,  we  take 
pleasure  in  associating  the  name  of  Mr.  C. 
H.  Cuyler,  deceased,  with  a  little  transaction 
in  the  U.  G.  R.  R.  line,  alike  honorable  to 
himself  and  a  common  humanity.  Being  a 
prominent  derriocrat,  Mr.  Cuyler  was  well 
known  here  as  having  no  sympathy  with  the 
19 


282  A  Histoi-y  of 

U.  G.  R.  R.  business.  He  had  received  a 
•circular  describing  two  runaway  negroes 
and  offering  a  reward  of  $100  each  for  their 
apprehension.  While  this  was  in  his  office,, 
two  neo-roes  came  to  his  house  one  night 
inquiring  the  way  to  the  house  of  a  promi- 
nent U.  G.  agent.  Mr.  Cuyler  recognized 
them  at  once  as  the  men  described  in  the 
circular.  He  told  them  it  would  be  difficult 
to  direct  them  so  that  they  could  find  their 
way  to  the  place,  in  the  dark ;  "  but,"  said 
he,  "  beys !  the  best  thing  you  can  do  is,  to 
come  in,  get  what  supper  you  want,  then  go 
and  sleep  in  my  barn,  come  in  early  in  the 
morning,  get  your  breakfast,  and  then  I  will 
show  you  which  way  to  go."  They  acted  on 
his  advice,  and  went  on  their  way  in  the 
morning  in  safety.  "  Two  hundred  dollars 
thrown  away!"  some  negro  hunter  will  ex- 
claim. Aye!  indeed!!  But  Mr.  Charles  H. 
Cuyler's  manhood  was  not  to  be  measured 
by  any  such  paltry  standard. 

A    LIVELY    LOAD    AND    LIVELY    TIME. 

Mr.  Y called  at  the  house  of  Mr.  W — 

on  his  way  home  from  a  three  days  trip 
to  Quincy,  and  found  that  a  company  of  six 
negroes  had  just  arrived,  that  were  to  be 
sent   on  their  way  to   freedom.     There  was- 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        2  8 


a  man  and  his  wife,  with  two  children,  and  a 
young  man,  all  under  the  leadership  of  a 
negro  called  Charley,  who  had  been  over 
the  line  half  a  dozen  times  or  more.  He- 
had  become  well  known  to  the  regular 
.agents  of  the  route.  His  various  trips  to 
and  from  Missouri  had-  been  made  for  the 
purpose  of  getting  his  wife  away;  failing  in 
which,  he  would  gather  up  such  friends  as- 
he  could  and  pilot  them  to  freedom. 

Mr.  Y — •  detailed  himself  for  the  service 
of  taking  the  party  to  Macomb,  to  start  next 
morning,  making  a  day  trip.  The  party  of 
six  were  stowed  as  well  as  possible  at  full 
length  on  the  bottom  of  the  wagon  and  cov- 
ered closely  with  sacks  of  straw.  These 
were  so  light  that  they  showed  a  decided 
tendency  to  jolt  out  of  place,  and  thus  per- 
haps to  make  unwelcome  revelations  on  the 
road.  To  remedy  this  a  rope  was  drawn 
down  tightly  over  the  sacks  and  fastened  at 
the  ends  of  the  wagon.  This  kept  things  to 
place,  and  all  went  well  until    near  the  end 

of  the  journey.     Here   Mr.  Y became 

doubtful  as  to  the  proper  road  to  take,  took 
the  wrong  one,  and  passed  three  young  men 
getting  out  logs  in  a  piece  of  woods  through 
which  his  way  led  him.  He  did  not  dare  to- 
stop  and  inquire  the  way  of  them,  for  fear 


:284  '    A  History  of 

tthey  might  pry  into  the  nature  of  his  load 
too  closely.  As  he  drove  on  he  thought 
there  was  a  striking  family  likeness  in  the 
•young  men,  to  the  man  he  was  looking 
for.  He  went  on,  however,  until  he  came 
to  a  cabin  a  little  off  the  road,  where  he 
thought  it  safer  to  inquire.  As  he  went  in 
he  confronted  a  man  that  he  recognized  only 
too  well  as  one  he  cared  little  to  meet  on 
such  a  mission.  But  it  was  a  cold,  snowy 
day,  and  his  face  was  so  concealed  by  his 
"wrappings  that  he  was  not  recognized  by 
the  occupant  of  the  cabin,  who  gave  him  the 
information  sought.  Mr.  Y —  found  that  he 
Jiad  gone  too  far,  had  to  retrace  his  way  to 
the  woods  and  there  turn  off  Here  again 
lie  came  upon  the  young  men  who  had  been 
•delayed  with  their  load  by  getting  "  stalled  " 
in  a  deep  rut.  Better  satisfied  now  as  to 
their  identity,  he  inquired  the  way  of  them. 
•Guessing  his  mission  readily,  they  made  free 
inquiries  about  his  load,  which  were  answer- 
•ed  as  freely.  Finding  "  Charley  "  was  in  the 
company,  one  of  the  young  men  determined 
to  frighten  him,  or  at  least  have  a  joke  at 
liis  expense.  Calling  his  name  in  stern 
tones,  he  told  him  that  he  knew  he  had 
passed  over  the  line  several  times  in  safety ; 
"'  but,"  said  he,  "  I  have  caught  you  at  last ; 


Round  Prairie  a7id  Plymouth.        285 

you  are  now  my  prisoner."  Charley,  still  im 
concealment  with  the  others  under  the  sacks,, 
recognized  the  voice  of  an  old  acquaintance^ 
did  not  turn  white  with  fear,  but  enjoyed 
the  pleasantry. 

Soon  all  were  safely  housed  at  Mr. 's^ 

After  supper  "  all  hands "  gathered  in  the 
parlor,  where  for  a  time  there  was  a  free  in- 
termingling of  story,  song  and  mirth  ;  after 
which  an  old  violin  was  produced  and  "  op- 
erated "  upon  by  some  one  of  the  company,, 
while  the  neoroes  "  let  themselves  out "  into- 
a  regular  old-fashioned  plantation  "  hoe 
down,"  which  lasted  until  all  were  ready  tcv 
retire  with  aching  sides  from  excess  of  fun. 
This  evening's  entertainment  is  noted  as  a 
particularly  bright  spot  in  U.  G.  R.  R.  expe- 
rience—  brightened  wit k  genuine  negro  pol- 
ish. 

A    PAIR    OF    PHOTOGRAPHS. 

We  ought  not  to  forget  what  slavery  was, 
nor  what  it  did.  To  refresh  our  memory  let 
us  look  at  a  photograph  or  two. 

One  day  a  genteel  looking  young  man  of 
somewhat  dark  complexion  came  to  Mr.. 
Y — 's  and  conversed  with  him  some  time 
before  he  was  slispected  of  being  a  fugitive 
When  asked  if  this  was  his  position,  he 
frankly  admitted  it. 


2  86  A  History  of 

On  his  way  over  he.  had  met   Mrs.  Y 

and  another  lady,  and  inquired  of  them  the 
way.  From  his  appearance  and  genteel  ad- 
dress they  had  no  suspicion  of  his  being  a 
runaway  slave.  While  stopping  here  Mr. 
Y —  took  him,  one  day,  to  the  house  of  a 
friend.  They  staid  for  dinner,  and  during 
the  meal  the  subject  of  caste  came  up,  in  the 
discussion  of  which  Mr.  Y —  remarked  to 
•the  host,  that  he  was  then  entertaining  a 
negro  slave  at  his  table.  The  host  was 
greatly  surprised,  and  could  be  scarcely 
convinced  of  the  fact.  It  was  deemed  en- 
tirely safe,  by  the  U.  G.  agents,  for  this  fugi- 
tive to  travel  openly  by  daylight,  and  he  had 
done  so  from  Ouincy,  and  continued  his 
journey  from  here  in  the  same  way,  stopping 
with  friends  on  the  route  (as  occasion  re- 
quired), to  whom  he  was  directed  from  place 
to  place. 

This  young  man  was  his  master  s  son  by  a 
slave  mother.  He  grew  up  active,  intelli- 
gent and  trusty.  He  had  for  some  time 
been  in  sole  charge  of  his  father-master's 
business,  a  position  of  considerable  trust 
and  responsibility,  in  which  he  proved  him- 
self trustworthy  and  fully  competent.  He 
had  a  "  legitimate  "  brother,  the  two  bearing 
a  strong  family  resemblance,  about  the  only 


Roimd  Prairie  and  Ply moiith.       287 

difTerence  being  a  very  slight  tinge  in  the 
color  of  the  slave  brother's  skin. 

The  legitimate  brother  was  a  profligate, 
a  spendthrift,  and  a  tyrant ;  a  constant 
source  of  vexation  and  trouble  to  his  father, 
and  who  was  yet  allowed  by  him  to  tyran- 
nize over  and  abuse  his  slave  brother  until 
life  was  almost  a  burden.  This  abuse  was 
suffered  patiently  for  a  long  time ;  but  finally, 
in  his  estimation,  "  forbearance  ceased  to  be 
a  virtue,"  and  relief  was  sought  in  a  success- 
ful flight.  No  moralizing  in  this  case  i^ 
necessary. 

Let  us  look  now  for  a  moment  on  photo- 
graph No.  2.  An  old  man,  from  fifty  to  sixty 
years  of  age,  had  made  his  way,  somehow, 
from  forty  miles  below  New  Orleans  to 
•Quincy.  He  had  had  a  fearful  experience 
of  the  rigors  of  slave  life  in  the  far  south, 
and  was  now  making  his  escape  therefrom. 
At  Quincy  he  providentially  stumbled  into 
a  sawmill  on  the  river  bank,  to  sleep.  This, 
he  found  out  in  some  way,  belonged  to  the 
very  man,  of  all  others  in  Quincy,  that  he 
wanted  to  see  —  the  principal  U.  G.  agent 
there.  He  was  soon  put  upon  the  line  and 
sent_  forward,  arriving  safely  upon  Round 
Prairie,  and  was  placed  in  care  of  Mr.  Y — . 
Here,   out    in   a   clump   of  underbrush,    he 


288  A  History  of 

stripped  off  his  shirt  to  exhibit  to'his  host  a 
rare  specimen  of  workmanship  done  in  hu- 
man flesh,  by  such  cunning  mahgnity  as 
could  only  be  born  of  slavery,  aided  by  the 
prince  of  darkness. 

A  cat  — not  the  sailor's  instrument  of  tor- 
ture, known  as  the  "  cat-o'-nine-tails,"  a  sort 
of  whip  —  but  a  living  cat  with  its  four  sharp 
sets  of  fearful  claws,  had  been  taken  by  the 
cruel  overseer,  by  its  tail  and  neck,  and 
dragged  backwards  down  the  man's  back ; 
resenting  such  treatment  as  only  a  cat  could, 
by  setting  its  claws  as  firmly  as  possible  into 
the  quivering  flesh.  This  operation  was 
continued  until  no  space  was  left  upon  his 
back  for  its  further  application.  These 
wounds  had  festered,  leaving  a  series  of 
deep,  close  furrows,  plainly  legible  in  lines 
of  living  flesh  covering  the  whole  back. 
Across  these  were  an  irregular  series  of 
heavy  welts  raised  by  the  overseer's  lash. 

We  have  no  taste,  dear  reader,  for  the 
exhibition  of  such  pictures;  but  historic 
truth  demands  that  we  present  them  as  hav- 
ing been  exhibited  already,  in  this  nineteenth 
century,  on  Round  Prairie,  in  the  free  State 
of  Illinois. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       289 

A    GRAND    RALLY    AND    HUNT. 

Perhaps  the  most  exciting  incident  that 
has  ever  occurred  in  the  history  of  the  U, 
G.  R.  R.  in  Round  Prairie,  and  at  the  same 
time  the  most  dramatic  in  its  details,  occur- 
red in  the  fall  of  1857.  A  professional  wri- 
ter of  sensational  stories  might  easily  work 
up  the  material  furnished  by  this  incident 
into  a  novel  of  respectable  size.  Our  aim 
in  giving  its  details,  shall  be,  as  it  has  been 
in  all  the  incidents  found  in  this  book,  to 
give  an  exact  and  faithful  narrative  of  facts 
as  obtained  from  the  best  sources  of  informa- 
tion open  to  us.  We  may  say  further  here^ 
once  for  all,  that  the  facts  of  every  anecdote 
found  upon  these  pages,  unless  otherwise 
specified,  have  been  furnished  us  by  parties 
who  were  active  participants  in  the  scenes 
described,  or  who  were  otherwise  thoroughly 
conversant  with  the  facts  stated.  We  deem 
this  statement  due  to  the  facts,  many  of 
which  "  are  strano^er  than  fiction." 

Late  one  Saturday  night,  or,  rather,  per- 
haps early  Sunday  morning,  a  covered  wag- 
on stopped  at  the  house  of  Mr.  X — ,  located 
at  a  point  on  Round  Prairie  that  we  shall 
not  desicrnate.  The  driver  aroused  Mr.  X — 
and  called  him  out  to  inform  him  that  he 


290  A  History  of 

had  a  consignment  of  negroes  that  he  wish- 
ed to  place  in  his  care.  Under  ordinary 
circumstances  the  charge  would  have  been 
readily  accepted  ;  but  at  this  time  Mr.  X — 
had  in  his  employ  an  Irishman  who  could 
have  found  no  greater  pleasure  than  to  get 
scent  of  a  trail  that  might  lead  to  the  cap- 
ture of  a  runaway  "  nager."  For  this  reason 
it  was  thought  imprudent  for  Mr.  X — to  re- 
ceive the  freight.  The  driver  was  informed 
of  the  peculiar  situation  and  advised  to  take 
his  cargo  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Y— .  In  the 
mean  time  the  Irishman,  awakened  by  the 
■slight  disturbance  below,  looked  out,  saw  the 
wagon,  and  was  sharp  enough  to  take  in  the 
situation  at  a  orlance.  In  his  eagerness  he 
rushed  out,  without  stopping  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  his  appearance  in  company  in 
his  very  limited  night  apparel.  He  ap- 
proached the  driver  in  a  very  familiar  way, 
and  tried  to  convince  him  that,  being  him- 
self a  sound  "  abolitionist,"  there  would  be 
no  harm  in  admitting  him  to  confidence, 
and  allowinor  him  to  share  in  the  manage- 
ment  of  the  case.  The  driver,  duly  fore- 
warned, paid  no  attention  to  his  blarney 
and  drove  off,  hoping  thus  to  get  rid  of  his 
too  familiar  attentions. 

But  the  Irishman  determined  to  track  the 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.        291 

;game  to  Its  hiding  place,  and  then  arrange 
for  its  capture.  Not  daring  to  lose  the  time 
necessary  to  add  to  his  wearing  apparel,  he 
followed  as  he  was,  keeping  far  enough  from 
the  wagon  to  escape  observation,  yet  near 
enough  to  be  sure  of  its  destination.  The 
■distance  to  Y — 's  house  was  not  great,  and 
the  Irishman  was  rejoiced  to  see  the  wagon 
stop  there,  and  the  living  cargo  unload  and 
approach  the  house.  So  well  satisfied  was 
he  now,  that  the  game  was  safe,  that  he  has- 
tened home  to  add  somewhat  to  his  dress, 
and  then  notify  some  of  the  nearest  neigh- 
bors, who  were  as  eager  for  such  game  as 
himself,  and  secure  their  assistance  in  its 
capture. 

'  No  attempt  to  pass  the  negroes  on,  or  to 
change  their  quarters,  was  expected  until 
the  coming  night ;  and  being  the  Sabbath, 
no  legal  steps  could  be  taken  at  once  for 
their  arrest.  A  quiet  outlook  may  have 
been  kept  over  the  premises  during  the  day 
to  guard  against  any  flank  movement  by 
Mr.  Y —  against  surprise  and  the  capture  of 
the  game. 

The  Sabbath  hours  furnished  abundant 
time  for  the  Irishman  to  consult  with  his 
friends,  make  the  necessary  plans,  and  se- 
cure all  the  assistance  he  mieht   need.     It 


292  A  History  of 

was  deemed  prudent  to  place  a  strong  guard 
around  the  premises  at  night  to  prevent  the 
possibiHty  of  an  escapade.  At  an  early- 
hour  on  Sunday  evening  armed  men  arrived 
in  sufficient  numbers  to  carry  out  the  plan. 
As  night  drew  on,  the  crowd  increased.  A 
neighbor  on  his  way  to  prayer  meeting,  pur- 
posed passing  Mr.  Y — 's  house  that  evenings 
as  it  was  nearer  than  by  the  road,  and  when 
near  the  place,  was  ordered  to  halt  by  a  little 
cluster  of  men  not  far  from  the  point  at 
which  it  appeared  he  was  attempting  to 
pass  the  picket  line  of  the  guard.  Failing 
to  comprehend  the  situation,  or  not  recog- 
nizing their  authority,  he  passed  on.  The 
order  was  repeated  in  more  emphatic  tones, 
but  not  regarded.  The  sharp  report  of  a 
gun  close  upon  the  order,  demanded  consid- 
eration. The  neighbor  halted,  turned  his 
course,  abandoned  his  peaceful  mission  to 
the  house  of  prayer,  and  returned  home  for 
his  gun,  remarking  to  a  friend  that,  "  if  shoot- 
ing was  the  game,  it  had  at  least  two  sides 
to  it."  On  his  way  back  he  notified  other 
neighbors  of  the  situation,  some  of  whom 
proceeded  with  him  to  Mr.  Y — 's.  Here 
things  began  to  look  serious  ;  some  of  the 
family  were  alarmed  and  frightened  at  the 
supposed,  or,  possibly,  real  danger. 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       293 

With  the  hope  of  getting  rid  of  the  an- 
noyance more  speedily,  Mr.  Y—  approached 
some  of  the  leaders,  and  offered  them  the 
privilege    of     making    their    contemplated 
search  at  once,  without  legal  warrant.     But 
thev  were  in  no  mood  to  take  advice  from 
]y[j-_  Y —  or  his  friends.     Having  a  sure  thing 
of  it,  they  were  going  about  its  execution  in 
their  own  way.     Changing   front,  Y —  then 
told   them   they  were  trespassing   upon  his 
premises  without  authority  of  law,  disturbing 
his    family,  breaking   the    peace  —  in    brief, 
that  they  were  rioters,  and  that  unless  they 
promptly  dispersed  and  left  his  premises,  he 
should  take  speedy  measures  to  have  them 
arrested   as   such.      Scorning  his  threat,  as 
they  had  his  previous  advice,  they  told  him 
that  he  was  their  prisoner,  and  would  not  be 
allowed   to   leave  the   premises.     With   the 
aid  of  a  friend,  however,  who  led  his  horse 
out  of  the  lines  at  one  point,  while  he  passed 
out  at  another,  Mr.  Y —  was  soon  on  his  way 
to  the  office  of  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  a 
distant  part  of  the  township.      The  friend 
who  had   aided  Y —  in  getting  out  of  the 
lines,  did  not  add  greatly  to  the  good  nature 
of  the  crowd,  by  pointing  to  the   receding 
form  of  the  horseman,  and  taunting  them 
with  their  inefficiency  as   a  guard,  as  they 


294  ^  History  of 

had  allowed  their  "prisoner"  to  escape. 
This  was  of  small  consequence  to  them,, 
however,  as  compared  with  the  game  still  in^ 
"  the  bush." 

The  hours  of  the  Sabbath  finally  passed 
away,  and  the  curtain  of  midnight  fell  upon 
the  scene,  to  rise  again  with  the  early  dawn 
upon  another  exciting  act  in  the  passing, 
drama. 

The  wild  Irish  leader  had  o-one,  at  the 
first  opportunity  after  the  Sabbath  had 
passed,  to  the  office  of  a  justice  of  the  peace 
near  at  hand,  for  a  warrant  to  search  the 
house,  and  arrest  the  negroes.  This  docu- 
ment is  worthy  of  record  here,  as  showing 
the  legal  status  of  nieyi  with  a  black  skin,  at 
that  time  ;  also  as  defining  a  crime  now  ob- 
solete in  this  country,  and  as  containing  a 
classification  of  "  property "  that  already 
seems  strange,  and  will  seem  more  so  as  the 
years  go  by.  The  substance  of  the  warrant 
is  reproduced  here  from  memory,  by  one 
who  copied  it  from  the  docket  soon  after  it 
was  issued,  and  who  preserved  it  for  years 
as  a  memento  of  the  occasion,  and  is  thought 
to  be  substantially,  if  not  really,  verbatim. 
It  reads  as  follows,  except  names  and  dates : 
viz.,  "  M —  W —  comes,  and  on  his  oath  de- 
clares that  a  larceny  has  been  committed  at 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymoitth.       295 

the  County^of  Schuyler,   State   of   Illinois, 
and  that  the  goods  stolen,  to  wit :  three  ne- 
groes are  supposed  to  be  concealed  in  the 
house  of  J.  B.  Y — . 

"  To  all  constables,  etc.,  greeting  : 
"  You  are  hereby  commanded  to  search  in 
the  daytime,  the  house  of  said  J.  B.  Y— ,  and 
if  any  of  the  said  goods  be  found,  the  same 
are  to  be  seized  and  brought  before  me. 
"  (Signed),  A.  B—   J.  P." 

Armed  with  this  document,  the  Irishman^ 
returned  to  the  field  of  action,  to  await  with 
his  comrades  the  coming  of  the  morning,, 
and  of  the  officer  who  had  been  secured  to 
execute  the  warrant.  During  this  interim, 
an  interesting  little  episode  occurred  that 
deserves  notice. 

Questioning  the  fact,  that  the  Irishman. 
had  a  search  warrant,  the  friends  of  Mr.  Y— 
demanded  to  see  and  read  it  for  their  own 
satisfaction.  This  was  refused  on  the  plea 
that  they  wanted  possession  of  the  paper  for 
the  purpose  of  destroying  it.  Protesting 
against  this  charge,  and  claiming  good  in"^ 
tentions,  and  to  be  acting  in  good  faith,  the- 
demand  was  renewed,  but  again  refused. 
The  demand  was  then  made  that  the  Irish- 
man, or  some  of  his  friends,  should  read  it 
aloud,  as  they  certainly  had  a  right  to  be- 


296  A  History  of 

satisfied  as  to  the  fact  of  his  havino-  the 
authority  claimed.  This  proposition  was 
assented  to,  a  light  procured,  and  some  one 
selected  to  do  the  reading.  The  one  chosen, 
however,  proved  a  failure  in  this  scholastic 
arc.  With  all  the  legal  clearness  and  pre- 
cision of  the  document,  the  reader  failed  to 
make  anything  intelligible  out  of  it.  After 
further  parley,  it  was  agreed  that,  the  Irish- 
man holding  the  document,  a  friend  of  Y — 's 
might  approach,  take  hold  of  one  corner  of 
the  paper,  and  looking  over  at  the  Irishman's 
side,  read  it.  When  nearly  through,  sus- 
picions of  foul  play  came  Into  the  Irishman's 
head  again,  and  jerking  away  the  paper,  he 
blew  out  the  light,  brought  down  his  gun, 
and  ordered  the  party  to  stand  back.  Sharp 
words  ensued  upon  this  abrupt  termination 
of  the  affair,  but  nobody  was  hurt,  and  the 
episode  had  helped  to  pass  away  the  tedious 
hours  of  niofht. 

Morning  came,  and  with  it  the  officer,  to 
whom  was  committed  the  responsibility  of 
maintaining,  by  his  personal  service  or  sac- 
rifice, if  need  be,  the  majesty  of  the  law. 

The  constable,  accompanied  by  the  Irish- 
man, armed  with  revolvers  and  huge  knives, 
proceeded  to  search  the  house.  They  were 
afforded    the    fullest    opportunity   to    make 


Rowid  Prairie  ajid  Plymo7itJL       297 

thorough  work  of  it.  With  extreme  caution 
they  went  over  the  house,  in  constant  dread 
•of  having  their  heads  broken  by  the  clubs 
of  the  burly  negroes  whom  they  expected 
would  suddenly  spring  upon  them  from  their 
•concealment. 

Thus  the  search  went  on,  from  cellar  to 
garret ;  every  room,  closet,  nook  or  cranny, 
that  was  supposed  to  afford  space  for  the 
■concealment  of  a  human  being,  was  thor- 
oughly explored,  but  not  a  curly  head  could 
be  found. 

The  case  began  to  look  hopeless.  The 
mystery  was  beyond  comprehension.  That 
the  negroes  had  been  fairly  tracked  to  the 
place  designated,  there  was  no  more  doubt 
than  there  was  of  the  existence  of  the  Irish- 
man who  saw  them  there  with  his  own  eyes. 
That  there  had  been  time  enough  to  spirit 
them  away  during  his  brief  absence  from  the 
place,  or  that  any  attempt  to  move  them  on 
to  another  point  that  night,  would  be  made, 
were  deemed  too  improbable  for  considera- 
tion. So  the  mystery  deepened.  The  negro 
hunters  were  foiled,  bitterly  disappointed 
and  chop-fallen  at  the  miserable  failure  of 
their  search. 

To  add  to  their  chagrin,  the  friends  of 
Mr.  Y —  now  began  to  ridicule  them  for 
20 


298  A  History  of 

their  inefficiency  as  hunters.  Old  logs  and 
boards  were  turned  over  about  the  premises, 
exposing  rat  holes  that  they  were  urged  to 
look  into.  All  sorts  of  suggestions  were 
made  to  tantalize  them,  and  urge  their 
search  into  various  improbable  places  of 
concealment.  This  storm  of  ridicule  they 
were  now  in  no  mood  to  meet  or  resent. 

To  make  their  discomfiture  complete,  as 
they  were  about  to  abandon  the  search  and 
leave  the  field,  a  new  actor  appeared  on  the 
stage,  in  the  person  of  an  officer  armed  with 
a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  the  Irishman  and 
several  of  his  most  prominent  followers,  on 
a  charge  of  riot.  To  the  execution  of  this 
writ  all  submitted  quietly  but  one  young 
man,  who  swore  he  "wouldn't  go."  The 
officer  ordered  a  posse  to  seize  the  rebel- 
lious young  man,  tie  him,  and  load  him  into 
the  wagon  with  the  other  prisoners.  Two 
stout  men  sprang  forward  to  execute  the 
mandate,  when  the  young  man  "came  down" 
with  such  grace  as  he  could  command,  and 
climbed  into  the  wapfon.  All  were  taken 
before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  some  miles  dis- 
tant, examined,  and  bound  over  for  their 
appearance  at  court.  The  final  result  of  the 
case  was,  that  after  various  dilatory  proceed- 
ings, delaying   it  from  term  to  term,  it  was 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       299 

thrown  out  of  court  in  consequence  of  an 
error  that  had  crept  into  the  date  of  an  im- 
portant paper,  placing  the  event  a  year  from 
the  time  of  its  actual  occurrence.  How  this 
error  happened,  is  one  of  the  legal  mysteries 
of  the  case,  supposed  to  be  understood  only 
by  the  profession.  Its  explanation  we  do 
not  attempt. 

An  mteresting  side  scene  occurred  that 
Sunday  night,  while  the  great  drama  was  on 
the  boards,  that  has  a  place  in  our  story,  and 
is  of  permanent  interest  to  a  considerable 
circle  of  friends. 

A  near  friend  of  Mr.  Y —  was  seen  making 
hurried  movements  about  the  neighborhood, 
in  the  darkness,  under  cover  of  night,  sug- 
gestive of  active  preparation  for  some  press- 
ing emergency.  Any  such  action  on  the 
part  of  Mr.  Y — 's  friends  at  this  stage  of  af- 
fairs, was  thought  to  be  decidedly  suspicious, 
and  as  indicating  some  shrewd,  bold  flank 
movement  for  the  escape  of  the  negroes 
from  the  snare  so  surely  closing  in  upon 
them.  A  close  watch  was  kept  upon  this 
man's  movements,  with  the  earnest  expecta- 
tion that  a  clue  might  thus  be  obtained  to 
important  revelations.  Nor  was  this  expect- 
ation disappointed,  except  in  the  nature  of 
the  revelation. 


300  A  History  of 

No  runaway  negroes  were  found,  no  "  lar- 
ceny "  discovered,  nor  "stolen  goods"  un- 
earthed ;  but  a  certain  promising  young  man, 
who  is  sometimes  seen  upon  our  streets,, 
dates  his  birthday  (?)  back  to  that  eventful 
Sunday  night:  viz.,  November  8th,  1857. 

The  sequel  to  this  story  furnishes  an  im- 
portant act  in  the  drama  ;  and  the  events  we 
now  relate  will  probably  furnish  many  of  the 
actors  in  the  scene  their  first  knowledge  of 
the  reasons  why  they  failed  in  their  search, 
for  the  negroes. 

o 

Mr.  Y —  knew  that  he  was  a  "marked 
man,"  and  that  his  premises  were  sometimes, 
watched,  and  peculiarly  liable  to  search  if 
any  suspicious  circumstances  should  point 
that  way.  Extreme  caution  was  therefore 
necessary  on  his  part. 

The  three  negroes  were  received  by  Mr. 
Y —  precisely  as  the  Irishman  had  stated, 
but  were  not  taken  into  the  house,  nor  con- 
cealed on  the  premises,  but  led  around  in 
rear  of  the  house  and  down  to  lower  o-round. 
a  short  distance  away,  that  would  hide  the 
party  from  observation  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion, and  then  taken  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Z — , 
a  near  neighbor  who  at  that  time  was  not  so 
much  under  the  ban  of  suspicion  as  Mr.  Y — . 
This  movement  was  executed  with  so  much 


Round  Prairie  and  Plymouth.       301 

celerity  that  Mr.  Y —  was  safely  at  home 
again  before  the  Irishman's  counter  move- 
ment was  carried  out. 

Mr.  Z —  received  the  negroes,  put  them 
in  his  garret,  supplied  them  with  food  for  v 
the  day,  and  as  the  time  approached,  went 
about  the  usual  preparations  for  going  to> 
church.  There  was  at  this  time  a  lady  vis- 
itor in  his  family,  who  would  have  objected 
strongly  to  being  an  original  party  to  any 
such  "underground"  proceedings  as  now 
surrounded  her.  Knowing,  as  he  did,  that 
her  views  were  directly  opposite  his  own: 
upon  this  subject,  Z —  did  not  hesitate 
to  explain  the  situation  to  her,  so  far  as> 
necessary ;  and  relying  safely  on  her  honor 
as  a  lady,  and  her  obligations  as  a  guest,  left 
her  alone  in  charge  of  the  house,  and  virtu- 
ally on  guard  over  the  negroes,  while  he  and 
his  family  went  to  church  as  usual. 

Apprehensive  that  a  failure  of  the  search 
at  Y — 's  might  lead  to  the  search  of  other 
premises  near  by,  it  was  deemed  prudent  to- 
get  the  negroes  further  from  the  scene  on 
Sunday  night,  before  the  search    should  be 

made  at  Y— s.     Accordingly  Mr.  X and 

Mr.  Z —  went  with  them  after  night  acro.ss 
lots,  to  a  place  in  the  neighborhood  about 
two  miles  away,  where  it  was  thought  they 


302       A  History  of  Rotmd  Prairie,. 

would  be  safe.  After  getting  there,  upon' 
consultation  it  was  thought  best  to  take 
them  out  of  the  neio^hborhood  altogether.. 
In  accordance  with  this  decision,  X. —  and 
Z —  took  the  negroes  on  horseback,  struck 
off  upon  a  side  track  directly  away  from  the 
main  line,  placed  them  in  safe  quarters  ten 
miles  away,  near  Huntsville,  and  were  back, 
upon  the  scene  of  the  excitement  in  the 
early  morning,  to  join  in  the  sport  made  at 
the  expense  of  the  discomfited  negro- 
hunters. 

Many  additional  incidents  might  be  given^ 
—  In  fact,  this  subject  alone  would  furnish 
abundant  material  for  a  book  of  several 
hundred  pages  ;  but  we  think  enough  have 
been  given  to  illustrate  fairly  the  modus 
operandi  of  the  Underground  Railroad  sys^ 
tem. 


THE    END. 


